My Mother, Elena Sanchez Rodriguez

I just want to pay a tribute to my mother on her birthday. She passed away 18 years ago and would have been 95. I miss her a lot and think of her everyday, and always in my heart. She molded my life and blessed my life greatly and her influences lives on. Happy Birthday, Mama.

My beautiful mother, at age 17, Brownsville, Texas

This is one of my Dad's favorite pictures of her. He always carried it in his wallet over the years

I think this one was taken after my brother Bob was born, by the way she wore her hair then.

Elena, about 7 or 8. with her brother, Albert and Uncle Naco. He was a month older than her.

Elena with her mother on a calf in Harlingen. She was living with her grandmother, Nestora until age 12 when her grandmother passed away. She and Albert then went to live with her father's mother, Jesusita aka Maria Jesus Linares Sanchez in Brownsville.

They were a handsome couple, here with us three older children

The got to 'grow old' together. Love this picture of them. They are about early 60s, guessing.