Belen Vargas Jaramillo
Belen Vargas Jaramillo passed away peacefully on January 14, 2021at the age of 82. She was born to Rosa and Prudencio Vargas on March 17, 1939, in Bardwell, Texas. Prudencio and Rosawere Migrant workers traveling with several small children. Belen was too sickly to travel and wasleft with her grandparents Florencia and Aniceto Espinoza, along with an Aunt Roberta (Ruby) Espinoza.
Belen Vargas Jaramillo passed away peacefully on January 14, 2021at the age of 82. She was born to Rosa and Prudencio Vargas on March 17, 1939, in Bardwell, Texas. Prudencio and Rosawere Migrant workers traveling with several small children. Belen was too sickly to travel and was left with her grandparents Florencia and Aniceto Espino Aunt Roberta (Ruby) Espinoza.
Belen attended St. John Catholic School in Ennis, Texas, not speaking English along with most of her classmates who were Czechoslovakian and also didn’t speak English. She and her classmates learned English together. Belen was in the choir, and her senior year, she and classmates took a trip to Colorado while in High School. Which she always spoke of proudly, took many pictures, and it encouraged her enthusiasm to travel. Belen played big sister to small Cousins; Margret and Susan Espinoza’s mother died in 1955 and helped care for four little nephews who also came to stay at Florencia’s home.
After Graduating in 1959, she moved to Dallas, Texas, working as a seamstress at a clothing manufacturing Co. in Dallas’s westside for several years with Aunt Ruby and other family members. She met her future husband, truck driver Jacinto Dias Jaramillo. She married Jacinto Dias Jaramillo on July 24, 1962.
She and her new husband moved back to Bardwell, Texas, with two German Shepherds named Bonnie and Clyde. They started their family with Daughter Francisca, then moving to a larger house with a second Daughter Ernestina, then came a son Michael and last, but not least Christopher. Even with small children, Belen and Jacinto traveled Texas sightseeing and visiting family and friends. Today, Their adult children continue to love traveling and learn not to be afraid of new places or people.
Belen was a stay at home mother. She woke up at 5:30 am to send her husband off to work and then her children to catch the bus on time for school in the morning. Belen made sure the kids ate meals together, then bath time, and in bed safe and sound. She sewed costumes for Christmas plays, Halloween Programs, and made food for PTA meetings or treats for classes. She hosted board game nights with friends and family and never let someone drive after a party, and there were always extra pillows and blankets for friends. Belen sewed clothes for her children and even hemming dresses or pants for neighbors. She helped non-English and English speakers with filing taxes every year. She helped immigrants file for citizenship paperwork and to find the right lawyers. No-one left her home hungry.
She moved her family to Dallas in 1977 and joined the workforce again, working at Sears and Roebuck, shipping and receiving. Belen and Jacinto parted ways after 23 years of marriage. Belen and her youngest son Christopher moved around until they settled in a suburb of Dallas. Carrollton, Texas. She loved living in Carrollton, and her home became, “home base” for her children and grandchildren, who lived or stayed with her or near her, including former sons-in-law’s and a few family friends.
Belen volunteered at Christian Community Action in Carrollton, Tx, and was active at local church groups for Seniors. She hand sewed quilted blankets, some for profit. But many for her children and grandchildren. Sewing was her joy, watching telenovela and calling someone to bring her What-a-burger in the middle of the night. She was independent, suborn, and never suffered fools. Belen was quick to make her feeling known and without miss- understanding.
She is lovingly survived by her daughters: Francisca Jaramillo, Ernestina Jaramillo, her sons, Michael Jaramillo, and Her youngest son, Christopher Jaramillo, who passed away on June 13, 2020. Belen’s sisters: Valentina Vargas Gadd, Virginia Vargas Bravo, Mary Vargas Duran, and her brother Jose Vargas, her Grand-Children: Stephyne Kirk, Alexander Gonzalez, Elijah Gonzalez, Daniel Gonzalez, Olivia Jaramillo, Nicole Flores, and John P., her great-grand-Children: Madeleine Sanchez, Damien Sanchez, Christopher Sanchez, David Kirk, and Elyse Gonzalez. Belen was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend.
Her family and friends will miss Belen and all that she has done and given of herself. She gave so much of herself to help others in need, including extended family and many friends. Please hug and cherish the time you still have with your family.
