In Memory of My Mother, Dolores Baldenegro

 

 

February 8, 1921-November 18, 2010

 

Dolores was born on February 2, 1921 in Bisbee, Arizona; a small mining town. She was the child of Angel and Lucia Baldenegro. She resided in Bisbee until 1940. She married Alex V. Garcia, from Bisbee, together they had 6 children. She and her husband moved to Los Angeles, CA. Her husband died from an industrial related accident in 1948. Widowed at 27 years old.



Two years later she met my father Benjamin L. Apodaca, and they had 8 children together. She had 25 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. They were married 35 years later. They were together for 50 years. Mother would often talk about her memories growing up in Bisbee. She recalls the depression time, how food was very scarce, but they never went hungry. She would tell stories of the La Llorona, a Hispanic legend. My Mother loved being with her family, gardening, her dogs and cats, listening to her Ranchero Mexican music. We would enjoy the hot summer days out in the backyard with her.  Mother would make us fresh squeeze lemonade, and serve us watermelon. She was a very good cook, never did we go without a meal.


She lived life simple and she wasn't the type of woman that had a lot of material things. All that matter to her was her family. She enjoyed her children and grandchildren visiting her. She lived in Southern California. She died in her home in Downey, California, at the age of 89. Was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Covina, California.