Serafina

Serafina, as the first and only female born to Mom, was a babysitter for most of the Brothers that followed her. For most, this would have been an arduous task, but not for Serafina. For her love for her Brothers was exceeded only by Mom's love. By the time I came along in 1937, Mom's failure to produce the little Sister that Serafina craved so much, had exasperated Serafina. So much so, that on the pretense that I had beautiful hair, she refused to allow anyhone to cut my hair. I have a photograph of myself with shoulder length hair at about the age of 3 or 4. Finally, my Dad, who was my Barber for 18 years cut it off to Serafina's dismay. I can only imagine what it was like, for Serafina, when Mom announced that I was the last child she would have.

One of the things I remember most about Serafina was how she fawned over Mom whenever they were headed for a Cape Verdean Social function. Serafina would accompany Mom to the hairdressers place (usually in the hairdressers home) and would issue orders as to how Mom's hair should be done. She would also go with her whenever Mom shopped for a new dress for a social function. Serafina use to spend so much time helping to prepare Mom, for the function, that she herself, would be late almost every time. In the years after she got married this use to get Manuel quite disgruntled.  Serafina married Manuel Lopes. From this marriage Manuel Lopes, Jr. was born-only 3 years after myself. Many years later Margaret 'Peggy' Lopes was born. The Lopes Family lived in Port Chester, NY, Norwalk, Ct. and New Bedford, Ma.  New Bedford, as most of you know, is considered the Cape Verdean Capitol within the United States. When they purchased a home in New Bedford it became the location of at least two Family reunions-in 1980 & 1982.

Obviously, great fun was had by all who attended. Serafina maintained a 'birthday' list of all of her Brothers and, never forgot to call each and everyone on their birthday. In 1995 Serafina passed away after having lost one of her legs. Mom also had a similar problem with her legs, but Mom lived with that pain rather than have the leg removed. When the then surviving Brothers heard of Serafina's plan to have the painful leg removed, we mounted a phone campaign in attempt to convince her not to remove it.

She gave each one of us the same response 'the pain is more than I can bear'. We all considered Serafina as, quite possibly, the strongest in our Family and, in the final analysis, we agreed, that for some reason, she had lost her will to live.

Serafina, wtih your death, the Family spirit was lost. With you gone that left Charlie, Fermino and myself. Despite the deaths we had previously endured, nothing could have prepared us for yours. It left us all wondering 'what happened that caused you to lose that will to live?' God willing, there is still one of us looking for the answer.

My Dear Sister, may you continue to rest in peace.

Your Brother,

John

John M. Santos