Jeannette Adored Her Auntie, Donna



Donna Lee Balderama

It was an instant love for Donna on that cold day in November, 1971.  I brought her to Fresno to see her newborn niece, Miss Jeannette Eileen Rocha.  From the moment she opened up her baby blanket and looked at her wearing her onszy she cried tears of joy.  First thing she wanted to do was hold her and so I let her.  Donna and Jeannette became inseparable.  I made sure to bring Donna to Fresno during any vacation break from her school in  Corcoran, Calif.  Jeannette loved her auntie.  In her mind, her auntie could do no wrong.  As Jeannette grew so did Donna.  Before long, Donna was a teenager and as typical teenagers do, they hung out.  She never once complained to me about babysitting Jeannette.  She loved her.  When Jeannette was gravely ill and in the hospital she kept asking for her auntie.  She said, "Ma, is Donna coming."  "Ma, I want to see her."  Ma, call Donna, I want to talk to her."  "Ma, I miss my auntie."  Jeannette kept Donna on her mind all the time.  I think she knew Donna would fight for her and would not give a ?? what the doctors or her husband said.  Donna would probably have gone ballistic on everyone in the room that was eager for her Nettie to die.  My sis can box just about anybody.  She is brave and nobody intimidates her.  I remember way back in the day when one of my neighbors in Clovis, Calif. was at my front door yelling at me because Jeannette had driven over their grass.  Donna came to the door swinging her arms and yelling at them that it was in their best interest to go back to their house.  They practically tripped over each other trying to get back into their house.  I remember hugging my sis and telling her how I appreciated her.  I think that from that incident on and especially because Jeannette witnessed it, that Jeannette always wanted her auntie by her side when she had difficult situations going on.  Yes, whomever is reading this post, WATCH OUT for Donna.  I love my sis.  She and Jeannette had the most loving relationship.  Jeannette is in Heaven now and free from pain.  I miss my Nettle.

Thank You Sis for all the love you showered on Jeannette.  God Bless You.