Tia Carmen's Girls and a Blessed Picture
By Larry J. Rodarte for the online Diaz Observer, April 14, 2020
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. And the essence of this one pulls at our heart strings for those who knew Tia Carmen, and maybe even those who did not. It depicts so many thoughts and questions, all the while evoking a simpler time on Van Buren Street in Reese, Michigan. The shoes alone, with Tia Carmen’s heals bring about wonderment. Yet it is her daughter Theresa’s dress that stands out provoking the question, what was the occasion? Regardless, Tia Carmen’s girls, the name I give the black and white pic stands as a loving picture of endearment.
Cecelia Stricker, grandma’s namesake, at first glance looks to be wearing a communion dress, but with black shoes, this wouldn’t be appropriate. Her headpiece or bonnet was indicative for any nine-year-old going to a Sunday mass at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church. The year is 1957 and her eyes are mischievous; their attention is probably set on her brothers Jimmy, Bobby or Steve. Still she has no recollection.
Fifteen year-old Theresa sits on the arm of the family couch. Today she remembers, yet is confused as to what was the occasion saying “ I wouldn’t have been wearing a strapless prom dress to church,” and wonders why the date of the pic says Oct. 1958. The same month of the tragic car accident on Oct. 5, that took their mother from them.
“I’m pretty sure I borrowed the dress, the shoes and necklace from Cousin Anne (Rodarte),” said Theresa, who was ten years younger than her prima. “I can only think that I was dressed for prom, which would put this in the spring or early summer.”
My mother Anne had once recalled that she and her mother Odelia went to take a few dresses for Theresa to try on and they had an alarming visit with Tia Carmen. Already married with her children too, the women shared issues of “women problems” that Tia Carmen was dealing with at the time. She was set to have some sort of procedure done the following week. She had asked for prayers.
Theresa looks glamorous, and the dress fits beautifully along with her white high heels. If you look closely, there are some white beads, maybe a rosary that again provokes wonderment of the occasion.
And then there is six-year-old Suzy, Tia Carmen’s precious baby girl, so content in her mother’s lap, just as she should be at that age.
“My mom looks happy in the picture, and she too is so dressed up. I wonder what the occasion was? I’m even wearing white earrings,” Suzy explains “Or are those white dots from it being an old picture?”
The picture of the Stricker girls is mesmerizing. What is so special to Suzy is that when she looks at this picture she, “can feel her love for me.”
This is what makes me sad and happy at the same time. I feel a deep loss.” Suzy says.
Cecelia, too, wonders what the occasion was and why they were all dressed up. This Easter Sunday, as she was perusing through old Diaz newsletters, she came across this picture and her heart jumped. She had reminded Suzy of the pic earlier, but couldn’t find it, and there it was on the back of an old newsletter.
“I get excited when I see this picture,” said Cecelia. “I called Suzy right away when I found it and I texted it to her and she said she cried when she saw it. I told her mom loved her so much. She was so happy because it’s one of the only picture with her and mom. What a beautiful Easter gift.”
It’s most likely that Uncle Tony took the picture. He took all the photos in those days, as the official family photographer.
It’s really something when you look at Tia Carmen; I see her sisters and even her mother in her features. I see Tia Dora, and Tia Della, and even Grandma Cecilia — high cheekbones and strong Latina eyes; very indicative of a Diaz woman.
Whenever I see Cecilia and even Suzy dancing at the Union Cívica hall, I am reminded of the pictures Uncle Tony took of Tia Carmen during their trip to Niagara Falls, where aunt Carmen’s back is to us. The girls have the same body structure today. I remember mom telling me her aunt Carmen loved to dance.
As for Theresa, she has the most recollection and deciphering of this memorable picture.
It is bittersweet:
“Through the years I’ve grieved for her when my kids were born and married. I remember how much she loved children and she would have loved being a grandma. They would have loved her as their grandma and she would have spoiled them. Now, 62 years later, I still have a deep sense of loss when my mind slips back to when she was on the earth.”
It is fitting that Theresa is dressed beautifully in what was probably one of the last pictures with her mother. As the eldest of the Stricker children, there are many pictures of Theresa as a young girl, as the head of Uncle Tony and Tia Carmen’s brood. Her siblings, and her extended family love her and I’m sure Tia Carmen is very proud of her eldest daughter, now that she has reached her golden years.
In regard to age Theresa once said to me, I think when she turned 50, that she was thankful reaching that age because she had friends, and of course her Mother, that weren’t as fortunate to have had as many years.
As a family we are blessed to have this picture of the Stricker women/girls as a loving tribute to each of them and how they each are held with great esteem within our Diaz family. The love depicted, however simple, yet, glamorous in Theresa’s case is a testament to the love their mother exalted in her zest for life and love. I write this with great love for each, along with all the boys as we remember Tia Carmen Diaz Stricker fondly.
Cecelia Stricker, grandma’s namesake, at first glance looks to be wearing a communion dress, but with black shoes, this wouldn’t be appropriate. Her headpiece or bonnet was indicative for any nine-year-old going to a Sunday mass at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church. The year is 1957 and her eyes are mischievous; their attention is probably set on her brothers Jimmy, Bobby or Steve. Still she has no recollection.
Fifteen year-old Theresa sits on the arm of the family couch. Today she remembers, yet is confused as to what was the occasion saying “ I wouldn’t have been wearing a strapless prom dress to church,” and wonders why the date of the pic says Oct. 1958. The same month of the tragic car accident on Oct. 5, that took their mother from them.
“I’m pretty sure I borrowed the dress, the shoes and necklace from Cousin Anne (Rodarte),” said Theresa, who was ten years younger than her prima. “I can only think that I was dressed for prom, which would put this in the spring or early summer.”
My mother Anne had once recalled that she and her mother Odelia went to take a few dresses for Theresa to try on and they had an alarming visit with Tia Carmen. Already married with her children too, the women shared issues of “women problems” that Tia Carmen was dealing with at the time. She was set to have some sort of procedure done the following week. She had asked for prayers.
Theresa looks glamorous, and the dress fits beautifully along with her white high heels. If you look closely, there are some white beads, maybe a rosary that again provokes wonderment of the occasion.
And then there is six-year-old Suzy, Tia Carmen’s precious baby girl, so content in her mother’s lap, just as she should be at that age.
“My mom looks happy in the picture, and she too is so dressed up. I wonder what the occasion was? I’m even wearing white earrings,” Suzy explains “Or are those white dots from it being an old picture?”
The picture of the Stricker girls is mesmerizing. What is so special to Suzy is that when she looks at this picture she, “can feel her love for me.”
This is what makes me sad and happy at the same time. I feel a deep loss.” Suzy says.
Cecelia, too, wonders what the occasion was and why they were all dressed up. This Easter Sunday, as she was perusing through old Diaz newsletters, she came across this picture and her heart jumped. She had reminded Suzy of the pic earlier, but couldn’t find it, and there it was on the back of an old newsletter.
“I get excited when I see this picture,” said Cecelia. “I called Suzy right away when I found it and I texted it to her and she said she cried when she saw it. I told her mom loved her so much. She was so happy because it’s one of the only picture with her and mom. What a beautiful Easter gift.”
It’s most likely that Uncle Tony took the picture. He took all the photos in those days, as the official family photographer.
It’s really something when you look at Tia Carmen; I see her sisters and even her mother in her features. I see Tia Dora, and Tia Della, and even Grandma Cecilia — high cheekbones and strong Latina eyes; very indicative of a Diaz woman.
Whenever I see Cecilia and even Suzy dancing at the Union Cívica hall, I am reminded of the pictures Uncle Tony took of Tia Carmen during their trip to Niagara Falls, where aunt Carmen’s back is to us. The girls have the same body structure today. I remember mom telling me her aunt Carmen loved to dance.
As for Theresa, she has the most recollection and deciphering of this memorable picture.
It is bittersweet:
“Through the years I’ve grieved for her when my kids were born and married. I remember how much she loved children and she would have loved being a grandma. They would have loved her as their grandma and she would have spoiled them. Now, 62 years later, I still have a deep sense of loss when my mind slips back to when she was on the earth.”
It is fitting that Theresa is dressed beautifully in what was probably one of the last pictures with her mother. As the eldest of the Stricker children, there are many pictures of Theresa as a young girl, as the head of Uncle Tony and Tia Carmen’s brood. Her siblings, and her extended family love her and I’m sure Tia Carmen is very proud of her eldest daughter, now that she has reached her golden years.
In regard to age Theresa once said to me, I think when she turned 50, that she was thankful reaching that age because she had friends, and of course her Mother, that weren’t as fortunate to have had as many years.
As a family we are blessed to have this picture of the Stricker women/girls as a loving tribute to each of them and how they each are held with great esteem within our Diaz family. The love depicted, however simple, yet, glamorous in Theresa’s case is a testament to the love their mother exalted in her zest for life and love. I write this with great love for each, along with all the boys as we remember Tia Carmen Diaz Stricker fondly.
