Churches are places of comings and goings. In August Glendora congregation lost two special people – our two oldest ladies, Trini Alarcon and Lucille Freeman.
Here are remembrances of these special people.
First, Trini Alarcon (1918-2012)
Is it really true that the meek inherit the earth or is that just New Testament pie in the sky? It rings true in the life of Trinidad Saena Alarcon who was born the same year WW1 ended when Woodrow Wilson was President. Today except for a few historians almost no-one thinks of President Wilson, who died in 1922. Yet there at Oakdale Chapel last week was a large sprawling crowd of 160-180 people who were either family or friends of Trini Alarcon, this wonderfully faith-filled lady whose last words to her pastor were “God is always with me!”
Our friend Trini is remembered for a life well-lived and leaving behind the inheritance of a large and lively family – 8 children, 32 grandchildren, a host of great-grandchildren and 78 years of marriage. The meek may be the “quiet in the land” but just on demographics they leave a powerful legacy.
Trini Saenz Alarcon was born in Saucillo, Chihuahua, Mexico to Felix and Apolinar Bustillos, a beautiful little girl. She just celebrated her 94th birthday on June 30. Apolinar died of influenza 6 months after giving birth to Trini and Felix had to eventually leave the five children with different family members. Trini was raised by an aunt and uncle in El Paso, Texas.
At age 13 she came to the attention of Manuel Alarcon and a life-long love story began. They communicated only through handwritten notes at first but on February 2, 1935 Manuel finally claimed his 16-year-old sweetheart. They paid 50 cents rent for their first apartment! Tell the politicians that!
In El Paso the Alarcons gave birth to seven of their children – Manuel, Frances (that’s our dearly departed Frances Vargas who taught Vicki and Delicieux, our Mexican dancers at Hispanic Heritage days in the late 1990s), Amelia (our kind and gracious stalwart whom we dearly miss), Felix, Robert and Alicia (who visited constantly with Amelia from new Mexico during her last illness). In 1953 they moved to Azusa, CA where Sandra was born.
Trini was a devoted wife and mother, a true Proverbs 31 woman. The Alarcons helped build the Seniors Complex at Azusa where they served as volunteers for 18 years. They loved dressing up for the dances and the craft shows and Trini was eventually hired to help serve at the center. Trini never turned down those in need or a chance to be of help. Her children, family and friends respected and adored her – as exemplified by great-granddaughter Vicki Flores coming from the USAF base in England for the funeral.
She will be sorely missed as she was an inspiration for six generations – yes, the meek really do inherit the earth for they live on in those they leave behind.
Lucille Freeman died on or around August 13 and her family tended to the burial in a private ceremony. But Lucille will be missed even if she was not able to get out to church the last few years. Born in 1917 she grew up through the worst of the Great Depression of the 1930s, or as they called it in parts of the Great Plains, the Dirty Thirties. Lucille did not mind joking about eating squirrels sometimes to stay alive in the worst of that horrible trial. Yet, she was such a lady.
She married a truck driver (Big Bob) and sired Little Bob who with his wife looked after her comfortably in her last years. Members recall how she had a shining spirit, called everyone “darling” and always had a big hug ready. She told her pastor she had read the Bible through at least 38 times “and still don’t understand it all.” Such homespun humility was refreshing in Big City LA – a true gift to us from the rural past.
Along the way she successfully fought off leukemia, had a cancer removed from her nose late in life and was working on her jigsaw puzzles just days before she died. Yes, she was one of those of whom it can be said, they don’t make them like that any more.
Guess you picked the right time to leave us Lucille – age 95. How we’d all love to keep up with you. Yes Trini and Lucille are the diverse wide-ranging group of people who make up the word “church” – ekklesia, “the called together ones.” These are the people who make up a church, most churches. and seeing them leave us is never easy but their example lives on to inspire us.
– Neil Earle with thanks to Yvette Lumbreras and Sandra Alarcon