My Mother’s Beautiful Sunset

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My mother, Maria I. Vizcaíno, was born in 1921 in Tapalpa, a small rural village in Mexico with cobblestone streets. When I visited our relatives there in the 1980s, people still traveled through town on horseback.

My mother had a difficult start in life. When she was only 17, her mother died while giving birth to twins. As one of thirteen children, she then took on the enormous responsibility of helping to raise her younger siblings. She cleaned houses and cooked for the local church priests to help pay her sister’s school tuition.

She met my father in Tapalpa, and they moved to San Francisco in 1951. There, she worked hard while raising all seven of their children.

My mother was creative and artistic. Later in life, she made this beautiful silkscreen at a senior center. For me, its beauty and vibrant spirit represent the happier and more peaceful years she was finally able to enjoy after all her children were grown.

Maria Perez • Petaluma

Maria Perez was born and raised in San Francisco and moved to Petaluma in 1999 where she raised her children. She has worked in healthcare and housing and is now active in many community projects. Using her bilingual Spanish and English skills, she supports immigrant communities and helps connect people with resources. She also enjoys gardening and volunteering.