2020-10-16 Novena - Negron Family Vigil for Ceceilia Negron

 2020-10-16 Novena - Negron Family Vigil for Ceceilia Negron

Cecilia Esperanza Negron (nee Castillio) passed away peacefully in her sleep on October14th, 2020 at the Holy Family Personal Care Home in Toronto, Ontario.  Cecilia was predeceased by her beloved husband Antonio. She leaves behind her sons Francisco, Carlos and Dominingo.  daughter Maria Negron (nee Negron), her son in law Mateo, her daughter in laws Lorena (nee Flores), Heather Jeffries and Brianne (nee Berwick). She also leaves to mourn 14 grandchildren: Esperanza, Antonio, Helena, Santiago, Jose, Seth, Grace, Angel, Pedro, Samuel, Fernanda Laia, Tomas, Miguel. A Novena will be held virtually through the Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in North York. You can login to the prayer service through the Ramos Memorials website or through the church website. The Lady of Guadeloupe is no longer holding in person services due to Covid 19 restrictions. In lieu of flowers the Negron Family requests you donate to the Sisters of the Holy Names Mission still helping the homeless in downtown Toronto during the ongoing pandemic. Cecilia was a volunteer with the mission doing God’s work and now with God she rests in the kingdom of heaven.

The obituary was online in all the major Toronto newspapers as well as a few in Miami where Ceceilia was born. And in the Negron house on Alexandra Island, the vigil began the moment the news of Ceceilia’s passing reached Maria and went on for days with the house lit by candles and prayers whispered with clutched rosaries. The garden centre was closed. The construction work paused and the children stayed home from school. There were tears, food, music and memories of Maria’s mother and the children’s Abuela. Neighbours dropped off cards, food, flowers, and bottles of wine and offered their deepest condolences.

The Novena ended with the internment of Cecilia which was also live streamed. And finally the family dispersed from the Negron house. Late in the day, a postal delivery came with an express post box. It was addressed to Maria from her middle brother Carlos with a note inside that said: 

Mama asked me to keep these for you. Now they are yours. She intended the rings for whichever of your children choose to marry first, but she always felt bad that Angel had such a hard beginning as well as his being left at the altar. Maybe keep it for him until the right one comes along. You also get her recipe boxes. Heather and I have made a few photocopies. I wrapped them in the last shawl she ever knit. Bit of an early Christmas Hermana. Love from Carlos

Her hands shaking. Maria read the message and looked at the ring.  The ring was supposed to be hers, but her father had been so angry when she’d gotten pregnant as a teenager, he forbade her mother from gifting it.  Over the years, slowly and one at a time, her mother and brothers came back into her life.  Never her father, however.  And when he died, Maria had not even disrespected him by going to the funeral.  He was ashamed of Angel, but Maria never for an instant regretted having her Angel.  Maybe she regretted his father, but he had given her Angel and Maria often thought that she had gotten the best of that scared high school boy.

Now she changed her clothes and slipped the ring box in her good dress pocket.  She set the recipe box in the kitchen, telling Fernanda to put all of them on the computer.  They could go to all of her children that way, printed out or by the pictures or however Fernanda decided to make the copies.  Wrapping the shall her mother had knit around her shoulders, she left the house and slowly walked out of her house and into the downtown area of Alexandra until she was almost at the veterinarian's office.  That last apartment, above the antique shop belonged to Ziggy Alvin and her Angel.  Not knowing if they were both home, she rang the doorbell and waited patiently.  

Angel was home alone in the small apartment. Ziggy had of course been with him at the Novena but had then gone to the grocery store when they got home and Angel was still reflecting on the loss of his grandmother. He had had a conflicted relationship with his grandparents all his life but had gotten closer to his grandmother after his grandfather passed away. Now he heard the doorbell and wondered if Ziggy had left her keys somewhere as he wasn’t expecting anyone. He looked around a bit and then went to open the door and was surprised but happily surprised to see his mother standing there. “Mama…” He bent down to kiss her cheek and then stepped back “Come in. you’re all dressed up again. Should I put on some coffee?”

Maria looked up at her baby, which the strange alignment of the stairs forced her to do more than usual.  They came in after the kiss and began to climb the stairs.  She emerged in the small kitchen and turned to Angel.  “Maybe a little coffee.  If you already have some.  If not, then no.”   she told him, looking around.  “How are you really doing, my Angel?”  she asked him.  She worried for him more than the others .. well now that they were grown up she worried for her girls, but that was different and, arguably, very old fashioned.  Her mother was dead, but she worried for her own baby.

Angel put his hand on his mother’s shoulder “I’m ok...really. And I can make coffee in less than  5 minutes if you want it. I know we’ve been eating and drinking all day though. How are you? Did you just need a break from the house after the Novena?” In the years he had with he and his mom against the world he had also become fiercely protective and worried for her.

Maria shook her head.  “Then no.  Coffee is expensive.  Don’t waste it.”  they were doing much better financially, but she couldn't help her thrift.  “Yes, I needed a walk, but also … I got a package …  from … my Mama….”  she went into her skirt pocket and pulled out the little ring box.  “She meant it for you … well for one of you kids, but I think you mostly.  For when you met that truly special girl.”  she smiled a little sadly.  “Papa … Wouldn’t let her give it to me .. it was my abuela’s and I think her mama’s … in Puerto Rico.  Si yes … it comes from Puerto Rico.  An heirloom.”  she didn’t have much to give her children but this was special and after all Angel had been through the ring almost demanded to be given to him above his siblings.

Angel chuckled and was well versed in his mother’s frugality. “OK, no coffee.” He looked curious about the package and the box that came out of her pocket. He took it from her an opened it as she kept talking, a look of emotional awe coming over his face “Oh Mama….” He looked at her teary eyed, knowing everything her family put her through for having him young and unmarried “I…..I don’t know what to say…” He closed the box and hugged her hard “you don’t want to keep it for Fernanda or Laia? I’d understand…..but I have met a special girl...and I do intend to marry her….this year if we can...hell before the new year I was hoping…”

Maria was pleased to see the emotion in Angel’s eyes.  She hugged him back and inhaled deeply.  “Fernanda’s boyfriend is a rich doctor's son.  He can buy her a ring.  As long as he doesn’t knock her up and run away, is all I want for her.”  she didn’t think Duncan would do that … well not the run away part, but she also believed he could buy a ring on his own.  “And Lais better not have a boyfriend,  Dios Mio I don’t have enough problems I need that.  I should put her in a monastery school now I think about it.”  she reaches out to pat Angel’s hand and refocus herself.  “Yes.  You have Ziggy and yes I think you should marry her quickly too.  Now you have a ring you can put on her finger which shows everyone you love her.”  she nods.

Angel was openly weeping now “Oh Mama..I love you so much. I will ask her….and I’m sure she’ll wear this ring like a Negron. Ziggy is the light of my life. Please don’t put Laia in a  convent school. We’d miss her too much. And I don’t think Duncan would ever hurt Fernanda. He’s so devoted to her.” He squeezes  his mother’s hand “You are the best Mama I could ever have. I owe all that I am to your guidance.”

Maria placed her hand on Angels face, her own eyes tearing up a bit for her son.  “I want Laia safe .. maybe a convent school is best.  Keep her away from the boys.  And I know Duncan will treat Fernanda right.”  she grins a bit.  “I think he’s a little bit afraid of me, which will help.  But I cannot say anything.  Mateo is more in love with him than any of the rest of us, I think.”  she smiles, as she wipes away a tear.  “I think Ziggy is a smart girl.”  she begins.

Ziggy walks in then with a bag of groceries for the weekend.  She hears the last of Maria’s words and heads for the living space.  “Hola, Maria.”  She greets her.  “I am a smart girl.  Look at who I love.”  she grins and then sees the tears on Angel's face.  “What’s wrong?”  she asks.  The death has rattled her, but death always did for her.

Angel had to chuckle as Ziggy had timing as well as still being amused about all the things his mother had just said. Duncan being afraid of Mama and bffs with Papa was definitely a plus in his fitting into the Negron family. Angel is still holding the box with the ring as there’s been no time to tuck it away anywhere so as Ziggy reacts to his and his mother’s emotion he just makes a decision to not wait a second longer as the box burns his determination into his hand. He drops to one knee in front of Ziggy and reaches for her hand “A gift from my Abuela….my mother and God….Ziggy Nesta Alvin….” He opens the box and reveals the ring inside “Will you marry me?”

Ziggy had not seen the ring box until Angel was on his knees and was reaching for her hand.  Her jaw drops and she can feel the tears in her own eyes come immediately to the fore.  “Oh my ..  oh my god …”  she sniffs and begins to nod.  “Oh yes, Angel.  Yes ..  I will absolutely marry you.”  she covers her mouth with one hand, sniffing, crying and laughing all at the same time.

Maria watches the two of them and finds herself crying right along with Ziggy.  “See, Angel.  She is a smart girl.  I was right.”  she beams happily.

Angel is laughing and crying too as Ziggy reacts to his proposal and says yes His mother being there is perfect to him, the two women he loves most on the earth.. He takes the ring from the box and begins to slide it on her left hand ring finger and it fits “Oh good…” He says laughing some more. “It’s perfect. Ziggy, you’re perfect. You make me the happiest man alive.” He stands up now and leans over bending to wrap his arms around her and kiss her tenderly. After he breaks the kiss he pulls back and says “Christmas...I want to get married no later than Christmas or New Years…..I won’t steal Halloween from your work friend but baby...we’re next.” He decrees.

Ziggy hugs Angel tightly and returns his kiss.  “That sounds good.  Maybe Christmas Eve?  No  even that would take from the kids later down the line.”  she considers.  “January the 1st is a Friday I think.  We don’t need a honeymoon .. and school is back on the 4th I think .. long weekend for us?”  she beams at him.  “I’d never take away from Fi and Vincent.”

Maria watches and smiles.  She doesn’t want to interfere and butt in.  That is something she is trying to give her children, so she watches them, just basking in the glow of their love.

Angel sort of sways with Ziggy as they talk like he’s dancing her a bit. He’s so happy he can’t stay still “New Year’s Day eve...perfection. We just need to see if Father O’Keefe is free then and yes a long weekend is perfect. Every day after is our honeymoon and time to make babies.” He grins. He was quite keen on having babies with Ziggy and both she and his mother likely knew as he was pretty open about the idea.

Ziggy dances with her man.  “We can ask him this weekend.  He lives at the end of Water.”  She smiles and hugs him.  “Yes our family.” she bites her lip.  She wanted a family.  Her’s had been wonderful and she wanted that kind of happiness with this man.

Maria smiles at the couple.  “Oh Father O’Keeffe would be wonderful for you.”  she claps her hands and smirks.  “I will be counting, you two.”  she points at them, but is smiling and laughing so that it is clear that she is joking about the timing of their babies.

Angel just beams at Ziggy, elated “I guess we need to figure out where we’re going to do it….get married i mean. I know where we can make babies.” He chuckles. “There’s no church but maybe the community centre in that big room they have upstairs? I know a band that would be willing to play…” He jokes thinking of his family members.

Ziggy nods.  “It could be the first wedding in the new community center.”  she smiles.  “Would it be okay if it’s not in a church?”  she isn’t Catholic and she knows his family is .. very much so, as a matter of fact.

Maria nods in agreement  “It is alright.  God is not confined to a Church … or to Catholics.”  This is actually a sort of new discovery for her since meeting Father O’Keeffe.  His brand of acceptance was very refreshing to her.

Angel smiles “As long as Father O’Keeffe feels fine with it, I do too. God is everywhere and he has blessed us already. I just want to declare our love in front of our family and frien……” He breaks off worriedly “Ziggy...should i have asked your mother for your hand…...I just went for it. I don’t wish to offend her.” He knows her father is long passed but then it would fall to her mother for the protocol. Or perhaps an older brother? Her family wasn’t as patriarchal as theirs.

Ziggy was basking in Angel’s beautiful words when he suddenly stops and asks if he should have asked her mother for her hand.  She starts laughing.  “Oh my god .... no ..  I mean i would be hilarious … but .. no.  Besides, she might say no just to start some shit with me when I go ahead and do it anyway.”

Maria giggles when Angel asks.  “That is very sweet of you mijo, but I think Ziggy is right .. a lovely thought but I think … it is not the way they do things.”  she giggles again imagining Lydia’s reaction.

Angel takes in what both ladies are saying about Lydia and concedes “OK...I will not mess with that.” He laughs too “Sorry culture clash moment. I’ll just be happy if she’s happy we’re getting married.”

Ziggy smiles and puts her arms around Angel.  “Mom knows how happy I am, Angel.  Believe me, she will be happy.  Theo’ll just be glad if we can get a baby in me so we have to move.”  she can’t help but laugh.

Maria arches her brow.  “Theo?  Why would he want you to move?”  she looks genuinely confused.

Angel looks a little shocked that Ziggy would crack that joke in front of his mother but then he can’t help laughing too and he finally just shrugs “Theo’s girlfriend Tara lives next door. And that led us all to discover how sound carries through the vent. So Ziggy left them a little note.” He doesn’t express that the problem went both ways but he figures that doesn’t need to be said.

Ziggy doesn’t even realize what she’s said until the words are out of her mouth and running through the air to her future mother-in-laws ears.  But Angel made it sound lke it was all her brother’s fault, which she can live with.

Maria blinks for a moment and then realizes what they are talking about.  Then she grins a bit.  “Babies are very good at lowering the volume of noise in the house.”  she advises them.  “You don’t want your child bursting in while you’re trying to make a brother or sister telling you.”  she makes air quotes.  “Stop doing that.”  her grin becomes a smirk and her eyes twinkle at Angel, as if he was the child in question.

Angel blushed and laughed at his mother's words and looked sheepishly at Ziggy. "I don't even remember saying it but she's told me I did....Mama you know i love all my siblings." He laughs "And I don't think you scarred any of them to your credit. We will follow your example."

Ziggy laughs unashamedly.  “Oh believe me, I have my own stories with my brothers.  That’s where I got my fascination for the human form.  Just walking in on people half dressed or less.  And I’m not scarred.”  she pauses.  “Well, not badly.”

Maria smiles at the young couple.  “I used to be so worried, but you learn not to worry so much and show some common sense about your whens and wheres.  The kids survive.”  she claps her hands and moves to sit at their small dining table.  Most of their home is poufs and beanbags on the floor and she felt if she sat on those she may neve get up.  That and this was one of her best dresses, after all.  “Now … this New Years wedding … in the new community center.  How formal or informal?  I hadn’t wanted a big wedding … with my family .. not attending and all.”  She sighs softly but pulls herself out of the past.  “And how can I help my baby?”

Angel has seen the painting so she knows what Ziggy means, and he's seen Gareth practically strip at a family dinner to show off tattoos so nothing is shocking anymore. "No unturned stones in your house growing up..." He smiles at his mother "You and Papa did a great job." He goes to sit with her "Well Ziggy and I will wear something nice but I'm not actually fussy about imposing a dress code on guests. I want people to have fun. I don't know Ziggy, what do you think? I do like to dress up.....and it is a wedding. I know when I get invited to one I assume I'm wearing a  suit. And food....I don't want to spend a fortune on food Mama but i do want to feed people who celebrate. So maybe between our two families we can make the food?"

Ziggy considers.  “I’d like to wear something nice, but also nothing I can’t wear again.  Sort of a new ‘Best dress’ sort of a thing.  That I can wear at any formal occasion.”  she considers the food.  “A pot luck sounds good.  We can cover any kind of diet then.  Mom would love that and Vincent too … he’s not allowed to cater his own wedding.”  she chuckles.

Maria nods.  “That’s very practical of you, Ziggy.  A wedding dress … they cost a fortune and you're not ever supposed to wear it again.  Waste.”  she grins.  “That sounds good … and heating supplies to keep everything hot.”

Angel grins widely “I love the idea of potluck. Bring our family and friends together with food and then we don’t burden people with too much work. And yes, I have a suit. It fits. I don’t need to buy one just to marry in. Maybe a new tie...but that’s all.”

Ziggy grins and hugs Angel.  “Perfect.  So … what else?  I mean if we’re not going all out with maids of honors and best men … are we?”

Maria shrugs.  “My wedding was very small in the church but .. almost civil.  So I don’t know how to plan a wedding.  I’m sorry.”  she apologizes.

Angel hugs Ziggy back and laughs “I don’t know how to plan a  wedding either. I did once but it….well this will be the real thing.” He looks at his mother and then at Ziggy “I would ask Pedro if I need a best man. Who would you ask Ziggy?”

Ziggy considers.  “Maybe Fiona?”  she thinks about it.  “I don’t have a lot of really close female friends, to be honest.”  she pauses.  “Do we need that?  I mean my father isn’t going to walk me down the aisle … and if he did we’d outdo Fiona’s Halloween wedding for sure.”  she chuckles a bit.

Maria shrugs.  “You two do it the way YOU want … even if it means just you two and Father O’Keeffe.”

Angel nods at Ziggy “Well my closest male friend is also my brother so I hear you. We don’t need a wedding party. Legally we need a witness each for the paperwork side of it. But that could be both our mothers?” He looks at his mother “Mama, will you be my witness of honour?” He snorts.

Ziggy smiles.  “Well, I would like your family and mine there, at least.  Fiona if she can make it and that means Vincent also.”  she bites her lip.  “Oh, I hope Dante is out by then.  He’s a good kid and I’d like him there.”

Maria smiles at her son.  “I would love to.”  but then Ziggy talks about the two families and hopes that Dante will be able to attend.  “I hear he is doing well in school.  The lawyer is still trying to get him out as soon as possible, Lydia was saying.  He’s being good and studying hard.”  she nods sharply.

Angel nods at Ziggy “I hope Dante is out by then too. If he is, then Dante and Gen.” He looks lovingly at his mother “Oh good.” He listens to how Dante is doing well in school “that’ll make his transition back to Alexandra Academy easier. He’ll be in George’s homeroom. His group strikes me as a bit of a handful. I’m thankful I’ve got the oldest group. It’s been mostly manageable. I have a few occasional challenges with one ongoing...irritation. But George….he’s got the toughest of the Brown kids and after what that poor family has just been through…..I can’t even imagine how the rest of the year will go.I pray for them.”

Ziggy nods absently.  “Now I have to hope that if Fiona is invited that her brothers aren’t insulted, especially not Logan.”  she muses.  “He’s closer to my age, bt lately Fiona’s been the better friend.”  she blows out a breath.  “God, a lot of this will be trying to not insult anyone.”  she laughs to herself.

Maria grins.  “You can't always worry about that.  SOmetimes peoples feelings will be hurt.  It’s your day … invite who YOU want.”

Angel looks sympathetically at Ziggy “It would be hard to fit everyone in the community centre if we invite everyone we know so as not to offend anyone. I’m sure Fiona and Vincent had to make similar decisions so the Reinhardts will likely understand. But we could make it big if you want...since it’s potluck. Up to you my love. I just want to make you happy, whatever we do.” He nods belatedly at his mother at her words.

Ziggy sighs deeply.  “Well, I get the stress Fi went through.  And Covid doesn’t help with an indoor venue either.  SO we have to consider masks more than she did at hers.”  she fell into a thoughtful pose, stroking her chin.

Maria grinned nd put her arm around Ziggy.  “You have as much help as she did with her family.  She smirks.  “After all … we're almost as large as they are.  It’s like a competition.”  she giggles a bit.

Angel made a face at Ziggy about the Covid factor “Ugh that’s true. Maybe by New Years the numbers will be under control. OK so limits, even virtual options if they suddenly cut us down in numbers. I mean Mama’s right….just the Negrons could put us over a limit if they crack down again. But let’s stay positive and assume we need to ask the community centre about setting up the space so people aside from those who live in the same household or bubble can be 2 meters apart. No one will be offended if we have to keep numbers down for that right now. It’s the whole world right?”

Ziggy nodded slowly.  “We can talk to some people and … make it happen.”  she smiles.  “I’m going to be your wife .. no matter what.”  she declares.

Maria beamed.  “That’s the spirit!  And the family will help anyway we can.”  she grins.  “I will leave you two to celebrate aone.  You do not need me for that.”  she huffs.  She hugs Angel and then Ziggy.  “Welcome baby to the family.”