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La Puente woman killed by swine flu
<!--subtitle--><!--byline-->By Juliette Funes, Staff Writer
<!--date-->Posted: 01/08/2010 03:42:36 PM PST
Victor Velasquez lost his soul mate to swine flu four days before Christmas and eight days before what would have been the couple's eighth wedding anniversary.
Griselda Monarrez de Velasquez, 33, of La Puente, died of H1N1 on Dec. 21.
She leaves behind her children, 1-year-old Abraham and 5-year-old Adrian, and her husband, whose love was compelling enough for her to leave her home in Mexico to California.
She gained citizenship and worked as a cashier.
"She was a wonderful wife, a loving wife, the love of my life," Velasquez said. "Her friends know her as someone who was always giving them advice, always looking out for them, sometimes more for her friends than herself."
The family will be holding a car wash from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Carl's Jr., 210 S. Hacienda Blvd., Industry. Donations raised will be used to start a fund for their children.
"I guess my mind blocks it sometimes, but it's been very hard," Velasquez said. "We didn't celebrate Christmas. We didn't even notice the holidays."
After Monarrez's body was cremated, a wake was held in West Covina and her birthplace of Durango, Mexico.
"I told my son before the wake that she wasn't coming back and he cried," he said. "It's unbelievable. We're still in shock because it was so sudden."
First diagnosed with bronchitis in early December, Monarrez's symptoms grew worse and she was taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, where she was told she had the virus.
After six days of constant coughing, chills and a fever, doctors did what they could, putting her on respirators and antibiotics, Velasquez said. She died at 1:20 a.m.
"In the end, her heart just stopped," he said. "I know she went in peace."
With the sudden loss of his wife, Velasquez is still coping and hopes to keep her memory and their love alive.
Monarrez graduated in Durango with a degree in forestry. After meeting Velasquez, she following her heart and immigrated to the United States in 2001.
"She said she left everything to be with me," he said. "She was happy out there, but she fell in love and followed me and we lived a very happy life."
She most recently worked at Northgate Market in La Puente. "She has touched many lives," Velasquez said. "She got everything she needed from us. She always said she loved our family. We're going to miss her so much."
Griselda Monarrez, 33, with her family, husband - Victor Velasquez, and their children 1-year-old Abraham Velasquez and 5-year-old Adrian Velasquez. Griselda of La Puente died of swine flu in December. (Courtesy Photo)
http://www.whittierdailynews.com/business/ci_14151300
<!--subtitle--><!--byline-->By Juliette Funes, Staff Writer
<!--date-->Posted: 01/08/2010 03:42:36 PM PST
Victor Velasquez lost his soul mate to swine flu four days before Christmas and eight days before what would have been the couple's eighth wedding anniversary.
Griselda Monarrez de Velasquez, 33, of La Puente, died of H1N1 on Dec. 21.
She leaves behind her children, 1-year-old Abraham and 5-year-old Adrian, and her husband, whose love was compelling enough for her to leave her home in Mexico to California.
She gained citizenship and worked as a cashier.
"She was a wonderful wife, a loving wife, the love of my life," Velasquez said. "Her friends know her as someone who was always giving them advice, always looking out for them, sometimes more for her friends than herself."
The family will be holding a car wash from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Carl's Jr., 210 S. Hacienda Blvd., Industry. Donations raised will be used to start a fund for their children.
"I guess my mind blocks it sometimes, but it's been very hard," Velasquez said. "We didn't celebrate Christmas. We didn't even notice the holidays."
After Monarrez's body was cremated, a wake was held in West Covina and her birthplace of Durango, Mexico.
"I told my son before the wake that she wasn't coming back and he cried," he said. "It's unbelievable. We're still in shock because it was so sudden."
First diagnosed with bronchitis in early December, Monarrez's symptoms grew worse and she was taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, where she was told she had the virus.
After six days of constant coughing, chills and a fever, doctors did what they could, putting her on respirators and antibiotics, Velasquez said. She died at 1:20 a.m.
"In the end, her heart just stopped," he said. "I know she went in peace."
With the sudden loss of his wife, Velasquez is still coping and hopes to keep her memory and their love alive.
Monarrez graduated in Durango with a degree in forestry. After meeting Velasquez, she following her heart and immigrated to the United States in 2001.
"She said she left everything to be with me," he said. "She was happy out there, but she fell in love and followed me and we lived a very happy life."
She most recently worked at Northgate Market in La Puente. "She has touched many lives," Velasquez said. "She got everything she needed from us. She always said she loved our family. We're going to miss her so much."
Griselda Monarrez, 33, with her family, husband - Victor Velasquez, and their children 1-year-old Abraham Velasquez and 5-year-old Adrian Velasquez. Griselda of La Puente died of swine flu in December. (Courtesy Photo)http://www.whittierdailynews.com/business/ci_14151300