Petronila 'Petra' Ramos' Obituary
To say you've lived till 92 is almost having lived a century, not many people have this privilege. A lifetime of experiences, of struggles, of loses and of love. When your body decides to give up on you, there is only one path left for us to go to; free ourselves of our burden and go on to start another life, another adventure, one that will last forever. Petrolina (Petra) Ramos-Molina, born in Rio Grande Puerto Rico on August 1, 1920, she was the daughter of Micaela Molina and Fermin Ramos. She was the last living sibling of her 4 brothers Castor, Hipolito, Patricio & Julian; and her three sisters: Georgina, Celia and Isidra.
Petra was the mother of Raúl (& Ruth), Wilfred (RIP), Robert (RIP) and Marie (& Orlando). Proud Grandmother to Robert James (& Stephenie), Ray Wilfred (RIP) & Ruth Marie (& Lerone). And soon-to-be great-grandmother to Mikayla Joann
She was born in a very poor house in Puerto Rico in 1920, no running water no electricity. She completed a 7th grade and wished to pursue a nursing career but because the school was so far away to walk to, she moved to Santurce, Puerto Rico and found a job there. From there she moved to New York, meeting her now ex-husband Angel M. Torres. While living in Philadelphia, in February 1968, the youngest of her sons Robert Torres was killed in active duty in Vietnam. This prompts them to move back to Puerto Rico. The following year Wilfred was killed. By then Petra seemed to have lost her interest in life, in doing things and only found refuge in going to church. As the years passed, when Marie moved to Florida she decided to move Petra here so she could watch over her. In 2007 Petra came to live at the Hugh Ash Manor in Deland. It was a nice place and she enjoyed being there for a while, until her dementia was too much for her to handle on her own. She then moved in with Orlando and Marie at Deltona. During the last 3 years her conditions complicated her health, therefore increasing her trips to the Fish ER, where the staff treated her very well. When she was feeling well she would go the Stay for a Day Daycare where she made friends, did crafts and they loved her very much. She had recently been at the Orange City Rehab and Nursing home from the end of July 2012 to last Wednesday October 17, 2012. We were extremely excited that she was out in time to participate in Ruth Marie's baby shower and most certainly get to meet her first great granddaughter. But God had other plans for her. Saturday October 20 we took her back to the ER where they tried to stabilize her breathing and her heart rate to no avail. Her heart was too weak and they decided a hospice would be the best place for her so she would be more comfortable. On Tuesday evening she was moved and Ruth Marie and Marie took her a strawberry milkshake of which she drank half. She was awake and spoke a little; she recognized Ruth Marie and knew there was a baby on the way. I asked her to please hold on so she could meet her great-grandchild. When I went to check on her Wednesday morning before going to work, I just got head answers, no words. I promised I'd be back after work.
On Wednesday afternoon, the call came in that Petra seemed to be getting ready for her journey. Marie stayed with her all night watching her breathing, hoping she would see the next day. But sleep took over after 3:00 a.m. on Thursday October 25, 2012 and the nurse woke her up at 5:00 to let her know Petra had departed. She went peacefully, she didn't wake up. There will be no more pain, no more blood clots, or difficulty breathing; no more trips to the ER. She was stubborn, old fashion and very stern. In her youth she was a great cook, and had a thing for keeping her house sparkling clean. She raised us well and though we had our differences, I do thank her for having raised me and my brothers to be who we are.
I will always remember on Halloween when I was about 7 or 8 and we lived at 1710 N. 3rd St., in Philadelphia, my mother got me a plastic Indian Tee-Pee costume from the milk truck Wa-Wa who were selling them with the milk delivery. When I got home from school my mother cried because she hadn't been able to buy me a nice costume. However, with that plastic costume I won the Funniest costume at school. That made her very happy and it made me happy to have pleased her.
I just want my mother to know that even though she drove me crazy, I loved her. And I am fortunate I was able to help these last years of her life, give her everything she needed or wanted, I just wanted her to be happy. I do hope she realized that everything I did, I did for her benefit.
We are asking that in lieu of flowers donations can be made in my mother's name to:
The Hospice of Volusia/Flagler West Volusia
Care Center
1625 Veterans Memorial Pky
Orange City, Florida 32763
And/or
Second Chance Animal Rescue
HC-01 Box 3547
Villalba, PR 00766
There will be a private cremation service on Saturday, October 3, 2012. We plan to take her ashes to Puerto Rico and scatter them at a place she wanted to be.
What’s your fondest memory of Petronila?
What’s a lesson you learned from Petronila?
Share a story where Petronila's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Petronila you’ll never forget.
How did Petronila make you smile?