Auntie Charo's Soapbox

For a brief time, I had a chance to work with her. She was all work then. After we got the 'work' out of the way, it was friendship that turned into a family-like friendship that one cherishes forever. I knew her when she and her dear friend, Patty Leon Guerrero Cassidy put their diagnostic lab together ages ago. They were pioneers in the field. They were new wives with babies yet they knew how to balance their lives and their jobs. It was quite simple. One would take over the lab one week at a time and the other the next week and for years, that would be their schedule. Their children weren't cheated out of quality time and their family lives flourished as did their business. When the business got too large, they did what smart business people would do. They sold it and spent the rest of their time with their families.
Joann, lived for three things, Roy, the girls and the church. Until Roy passed away a few years ago, I never saw him without her. She was always with him and she always had that smile. A smile her daughters have, perhaps having learned it from their mother.
The lady did a lot of things for the community but I'm not aware of all that she did, rather, I'm aware of the kind of woman that she was towards her husband, her daughters, her grandchildren and her God. She was a loyal and loving friend. I shall miss her and know that those who knew her will miss her as I shall.
My thoughts and prayers are with the girls and their children.