Lupe was a feisty, lovable woman and will always have a special place in my
heart. She had a colorful sense of humor, and you could always count on
her being candidly honest. That's what I admired the most about her.

I was honored to be a member of her management team at TJMaxx. Lupe was
a dedicated leader who was results driven and who led her team with
vision. During the four years I worked with her, we developed a close friendship. Although I left Houston in 2011, I've always considered her family.

One of the things that Lupe and I shared was traveling. We often shared
our dreams of future destinations to explore. Lupe told stories of her
childhood, including how her family endured the hardships resulting from
the political movements in Nicaragua. Lupe moved to San Francisco from
Central America at the age of 18. Knowing very little English, she got
her first job as a gift wrapper of luxury dresses at I. Magnin & Co.
in Union Square. A year later, she married and eventually gave birth to
two beautiful girls. Tiany and Marci have blessed Lupe with 6
grandchildren. All boys.

Retirement was right around the corner
for Lupe. It's all she could talk about: spending time with her
daughters and her grandchildren (all of whom she was very proud of) and
spending time in her beloved homeland, Nicaragua. For the last year Lupe
was ill, but also resilient, not giving up without a fight. She fought
tirelessly for six months, in and out of the hospital, with her family
beside her. Unfortunately Lupe had become too ill to receive the liver
transplant that she so desperately needed. She is now resting in peace.
Her daughters, Tiany and Marci, have been saints during her final days.

Lupe would want everyone to celebrate her life and remember the laughs and memorable times spent with her.

This is not goodbye. Lupe’s spirit will always be with me. Rest in peace, mi amigita!