Love Shown, Not Spoken

Juanita’s love was never loud. It was something you felt in her songs, her hands, and her laughter. She showed love when she sang — bursting into old Spanish ballads or a playful Happy Birthday, turning even a phone call into a celebration. Her voice had a warmth that filled the room and stayed in your heart long after the last note faded. When words failed, her hands spoke. She once sewed a pillow for Carmen to hold whenever she felt lonely or lost — a quiet act of comfort that said everything her heart could not.

Her grandchildren each hold memories that still bring them close to her:

• Jennifer remembers being picked up from school and coming home to the familiar comfort of Spanish coffee and Goya crackers with butter, a small ritual that still tastes like love.

• Jessica, the youngest, remembers Grandma greeting every visit with animal crackers, her way of saying, “I’m glad you’re here.”

• Her grandson Elvin remembers calling from college to make her laugh — pretending to be a stranger who had misdialed or someone she met at church. She would switch between Spanish and her beautiful broken English, trying to figure out what was happening. When she discovered it was him, she’d scold him playfully before laughing so hard it filled the line. That laugh — pure, honest, and full of light — was her signature.

Fulfillment Through Service

Juanita devoted over 50 years of her life to volunteering in hospitals, bringing prayer and comfort to the sick and strength to families in need. She believed deeply in service — in showing up for others with compassion and faith.

Her guiding words were simple:

“Con Dios todo es posible — Through God, all things are possible.”

She lived by them. Even when life tested her, she leaned on her faith and found purpose in lifting others. She often joked, with her gentle smile, that “the only man in my life is Jesus Christ.” To have lived ninety-nine years is remarkable; to have lived them with such humility, generosity, humor, and devotion is a rare gift.

A Lasting Legacy

Juanita Reyes leaves behind a family who loves her deeply — her daughter Carmen, her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who will carry forward her faith, her songs, and her quiet strength. Her legacy lives in every melody hummed, every act of kindness offered, and every moment of courage in the face of hardship. For those who knew her, she will always be remembered as a woman whose love was steady, joyful, and true — a light that will never fade.