Sara Gomez-Ramirez Obituary (1946

Sara Gómez Ramírez (Dec 28, 1946 to July 9, 2020)…. The Loved ONE! Sara (‘Sarita’) Gómez Ramírez, from Las Piedras (Puerto Rico), passed to Heaven on Thursday, July 9, 2020 at her daughter’s residence of Belgrade Lakes, ME at the age of 73 after a long stretch dealing with nephrotic syndrome and diabetes. At the time of her death, she was attended by her daughter, Sara H. Languet and her granddaughter, Gabriela M. Languet, and other members of her immediate family. Sarita was born in Montones of Las Piedras, PR on Saturday, December 28, 1946 as the first child of Carmelo Gómez Hernández and Virginia Ramírez Lebrón. Sarita attended Valenciano Second Unit Elementary School (now, Pedro Rivera Molina Elementary) and went to Ana Roqué High School in Humacao, Puerto Rico. Subsequently, she earned a Secretarial degree from one of the best schools in the Island, the Puerto Rico Commercial Institute (PRCI). However, “Our Dearest Sarita” will be remembered as a good and treasured daughter, a spoiled granddaughter by both her grandfathers (her paternal grandfather ‘Melo’ used to called her “Meliche Santo Viejo”), a loyal and diligent sister, a well-regarded niece, the “prankish” cousin, a sister-in-law that heartedly would helped with any request, a specially warm and cheerful ‘Madrina,’ and certainly the ONLY paternal aunt and (without a doubt!) the favorite aunt of all her nieces and nephews. Simply and candidly “beyond loved” in her hometown neighborhood. A beloved –‘muy querida y apreciada’-- human being by everyone that knew her. And above all, a MOM without comparison, she singly dedicated a great deal of her life to raise her daughter (an only child) with such passion that she consciously forgo opportunities with serious male suitors. Her life was exclusively focused on the upbringing of her daughter and of her three grandchildren. She was a very supportive mother-in-law; and a caring grandmother with many simple details. For the most part, thank you to her selflessness efforts, her grandchildren enjoyed solely “fresh,” home-made baby food as infants and was their only babysitter. She was the “main” home pillar as her daughter’s family tried to deploy two professional parents with three young children. Her daughter learned from her to “esmeralse,” and/or to always and consistently give and gift only the best with eagerness in all endeavors at hand, at school, and at work; and to be highly devoted to her own family, to GOD and to the Virgin Mary. When Sarita was in good health, she would help with anything requested from her and especially with tasks that would relieve others’ burdens… always with the vision of helping others to progress. For such, she aided in the care of all of her brothers’ children (and extended cousins) with the faithful and strong desire of not only being of service, but to have purpose within her family clan; and, so, she could be with them, watched over them, spoiled them and pampered them. Children were a fascination to her… all children… but especially those of the family and friends. She adored each one of her three brothers, her aunts and for them she did all she could help with. Not a surprise, she also helped in the care of the elders of the family (specifically her aunts and her grandparent). Such was her heart! Up to the extent that she could manage, she worked and earned her own livelihood. She tried different jobs… Initially, right after finishing college, she worked temporarily as an office clerk and as a production line operator at the local Johnson & Johnson factory. She also sold Avon products for some time… she cleaned the homes of the family clan… But, her most significant employment (which she enjoyed for almost 10 years) was the daily nursing of the calves raised to be the replacement cows of her father’s dairy farm. There she did an exceptional job and seriously engaged with their care, learning and knowing at a given time each one of the over two dozen calves’ personalities and likes. With great dedication and without complaint she performed this duty since she fully understood the ultimate benefit to her family. Healthy calves would eventually translate into magnificent milk producing cows and with it the solid foundation of the family business longevity that directly or indirectly, or that small or big provided good fortune and stability that helped sustain her family clan for over 15 years. This understanding gave her a prolonged satisfaction and a permanent sense of self pride. She knew that she profoundly contributed to the edification and establishment of her clan. Her life was a balance between family, light jobs, and her health complications. In her late years, her doctors, nurses, and her medical personnel were basically her best friends. All and each one of them had great esteem and sincere affection for her, since with ease they could read her enthusiasm and her zest for life in her beautiful green-blue eyes … She had a strong desire for healthily enjoying and savoring life. She had great delight in partying and celebrated drinking, eating, conversing, saying jokes and being “smart.” She enjoyed “Jíbaro” music.. dancing and singing… and, best, having “Boricua” folk food with one beer or few of them. However, her number one delight was the taste of coffee in the morning and, if she could, she would have several cups of it during the day. She was allured by and with flowers. She had a ‘green thumb’ to grow them. In Maine, gardens of the most beautiful multi colored gladiolus gardens and of the perennial tiger lilies were grown by her. Additionally, she harvested potatoes, strawberries, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. In Puerto Rico she had impatiens (pansies) in her porch hanging baskets. In her garden there, she had lime trees, a pana tree, an acerola cherry tree, an orange tree, a grapefruit tree, an aguacate tree, a quenepa tree, a papaya tree, a small coconut tree, two mango trees and several banana and plantain trees. All of those trees planted by her own hand… also she grew ñames, yautias, sweet potatoes, beans, pigeon peas and lentils. In the kitchen, no one cook better puertorrican beans than her. Her succulent “piononos with ground beef” were out of this world. Beyond the homemade recipes, you gotta add the fresh squeezed juiced refreshments made of fruits from her own garden; and the legendary, “never to be seen again” coconut and “acerola” “limbers” (popsicles) she made to satisfy the neighborhood kids. We all have second chances… and Sarita’s legacy is a profound “FREE” grace and the lessons of how to do “exceptionally” what is most important in life: LOVING! Such a ‘sweet’ reminder to all! Her daughter was her primary caregiver for the last seven years of her life. Seeing her passing from this world to Heaven without agony, with a sound state of mind, ready to be in God’s presence, with calm and peace, seeing her happy in her last days and having the joy of saying kind of an “adios” to most everyone she knew was and is a godly gift. She forever will be in the minds and the hearts of those who knew her. Sarita: “We will see you in Heaven, again!” Sarita was predeceased by her dad, Don Carmelo Gómez Hernández, and her mom, Doña Virginia Ramírez Lebrón - both from Las Piedras, PR. She is survived by her daughter Sara H. Languet and her son-in-law Bert Languet from Belgrade Lakes, ME; three grandchildren: Albert J. Languet IV, Gabriela M. Languet and Joshua C. Languet; her second mom: Doña Celsa López Silva; her three brothers (to whom she was the older sibling): Mr. Jesús Gómez Ramírez, Mr. Aurito Gómez López, and Dr. Juan Ramón Gómez López. To curve COVID-19 restrictions, there are going to be additional Funeral Masses in her honor on the first year anniversary of her death in Maine and in Puerto Rico at a time to be determined.