LAURA CANALES EULOGY-FUNERAL
JAVIER VILLANUEVA
I stand before you
today the representative of a family in grief, in a country in
mourning before the Tejano world in shock. We are all united not
only in our desire to pay our respects to Laura but rather in our
need to do so. For such was her extraordinary appeal that the tens
of thousands of people taking part in this service all over the
world who never actually met her, feel that they too lost someone
close to them. It is a more remarkable tribute to Laura than I can
ever hope to offer her today.
Laura was the very essence of compassion, of style, of beauty. All
over the world she was a symbol of of our cultural heritage.
Someone with a
natural Tejano nobility who was classless and who proved in the last
years of her life that she merited her royal title as La Reina as
she continued to generate her particular brand of magic.
Today is our chance to say thank you for the way you brightened our
lives, even though God granted you but half a life. We will all feel
cheated always that you were taken from us so young and yet we must
learn to be grateful that you came along at all. Only now that you
are gone do we truly appreciate what we are now without and we want
you to know that life without you is very, very difficult.
We have all despaired at our loss over the past week and only the
strength of the message you gave us through your music and angelic
voice has afforded us the strength to move forward.
There is a temptation to rush to canonise your memory, there is no
need to do so. Indeed to sanctify your memory would be to miss out
on the very core of your being, your wonderfully mischievous sense
of humor with a laugh that bent you double.
Your joy for life transmitted where-ever you took your smile and the
sparkle in those unforgettable eyes.
But your greatest gifts to us were your music…..your songs……and your
friendship.
And here we come to another truth about her. For all the status, the
glamour, the applause, Laura remained throughout a very tranquil
person at heart, almost childlike in her desire to please others.
Her Fans sensed this part of her character and cherished her for her
vulnerability whilst admiring her for her humility.
Laurita…..Today I
walk with you as you wave goodbye to us and I sing out…”O GRAN DIOS….
CUANTO SUFRO EN ESTA VIDA!”
