At just 10 years old, Laura discovered her love for music when she learned to play the piano. She was naturally gifted and could play many songs beautifully by ear, including Spanish flamenco melodies. Music became a meaningful part of her life, especially Mexican music, which connected deeply to her culture and her past.
A proud history
Laura remained proud of her Mexican American heritage as she grew up in El Paso, Texas, and spent time in Mexico with her family. Her father was a member of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) that advocated for Hispanic civil rights in the United States. During World War II, Laura qualified to serve the war effort as a Spanish interpreter in Washington, D.C., where she remained for 10 years.
After raising a daughter as a single mother, Laura married later in life. Then after her husband had a stroke and was paralyzed, she committed to caring for him. “It was a fulltime job, and I didn’t have much extra time to do much for myself,” Laura remembered.
Reconnecting to Hispanic heritage
At 100 years old and living with dementia in a memory care facility, Laura had one heartfelt wish: to hear a Mariachi band play in her community.
Wish of a Lifetime granted Laura’s wish by bringing Mariachi Centella to her assisted living community so that she and her friends and family could enjoy the music together.
“They were a group of seven members, wearing beautiful red outfits that looked like they came straight from Mexico!” said Mary Anne, Laura’s daughter. “There was a woman who was crying the first 10 minutes of the Mariachi performance… Although they can’t understand Spanish, the Mariachi singer was so expressive with his voice,” she said.
For Laura, it wasn’t just about watching a performance to pass the time—it was about reconnecting with her Hispanic heritage and sharing that part of her herself with others.
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