My Great Grandmother, Mary Machuca (1911-2009) passed away last week.  She was 97 and still she was taken from us too early.  I loved her with all my heart and after reading this, maybe you will understand why.

A little family history:

Carlos Arcos - Mary’s grandfather was born in April 1812 in Spain.  The 1900 census shows his occupation was a Physician.   He immigrated the US in 1880.  Pancha Arcos was Mary’s grandmother was born in Fenruary 1864 in Mexico.  She immigrated to the US in 1880.

1900 census Carlos Arcos, Texas

Manuel Arcos - Mary’s father was born in Texas in December 1887.  He was one of  seven children (3 brothers and 3 sisters).  According to the 1900 census he was in school and could read, write and speak English.  Julia Arcos was Mary’s mother and was born in 1894 in Mexico.  She immigrated to the US in 1900.

According to the 1930 Census in East Chicago, IN, Mary Machuca and her two sisters, Lily and Maggie lived with their parents.  Manuel was working at a Steel Mill and Mary was a saleslady in a department store.  She also became the first Avon Lady in Indiana in this year.

1930 East Chicago, IN Census

My grandmother was always a Democrat and was very involved in politics.  Organizations that she was involved in included:

• National Vice President of LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens)
• President of LULAC Ladies Council
• Senoras of Yesteryear (SOY)
• Mothers of World War II
• Garden Clubs of Four Seasons and Pharr, Texas
• Pink Ladies of St. Catherine Hospital and McAllen, Texas Hospital.
• She helped organize the WOW Camp, Grove Lima, Texas.
• First Latin American Youth Recreation Club of East Chicago, Indiana
• League of Women Voters, Hammond, Indiana
• First Mexican American Women’s Democratic Club in East Chicago, Indiana
• Ladies Guadalupanos of East Chicago, Indiana

She was also a very devout Catholic.  She prayed at least 2 hours a day and had a close relationship with her God and her church.   Her hobby was crocheting and she made baby quilts and baby clothes for all of 60+ grandchildren/great-grandchildren/great-great grandchildren.  She always dressed to the nines.  She wasn’t flashy, just perfectly groomed.  Even in her nineties, she always wore lovely dresses, high heels, had perfect hair, make-up and nails.

Great Grandma Mary was the most generous person, I’ve ever known.  As an example,  in 1970,  Mary had just moved back to East Chicago from Texas.  She was a widow and had been taking care of her parents in Texas.  She’d saved up enough money to buy everything she needed for her new apartment. She’d purchased pots, pans, a sofa, a dining room set, dishes, and a new car.  When my grandfather (her youngest son) came home from the Vietnam War, she couldn’t have been happier.  Jon, his wife Joan and their baby daughter (my mom) were on their way to Ball State University. They didn’t have any possessions, and weren’t sure how they were going to make a life for themselves. Grandma Mary wouldn’t let them start their lives with nothing, when she had something to give.  She gave them everything she had, including her car.  They didn’t want to take her possessions, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer.

That is just one example of hundreds of stories that I’ve heard over the years.  She reminds me of the character, Melanie Hamilton, in Gone with the Wind.  She was always gracious and never judged.  She gave all of her energy to helping her family and her community.  She was a gentle, feminine woman, whose loyalty to her friends and family never wavered.

I hope to live up to the legacy of this great lady, and I’m glad that I was lucky enough to know her.