Hello Family, Friends, and all those interested Puerto Rico Ancestry. Today I will share a love story. This is the love story of my parents, Raul Resto Y Mijon, and Maria Teresa Marin Y Ramos.

We all love a good love story. At least I do. Everyone is looking for love. How we find it is different for all of us. Let’s go back to Amsterdam Ave., New York City, 1953.

Maria left Puerto Rico and had arrived to New York City dreaming of new opportunities and a better life. Her aunt, Ramona Ramos Y Batista was a business partner in a women’s clothing factory and an everyday essentials store. She was well connected and helped Maria secure a job in a ladies fine purse store. Life was good for Maria. Her new life had begun.

It was a beautiful Sunday morning in June 1953. The day began like every other Sunday, except that now Maria Teresa was living in New York City. The sites, the sounds, the cars, trains and buses were all new to Maria. It was all very exciting!

Ramona, always known to us as Titi, tells Maria to hurry or they will be late for church. A new church today for Maria who had recently arrived from Puerto Rico. The church, Alizana Cristiana (Christian Church), was directly across the street from where they lived, 1430 Amsterdam Ave.

Maria fixes her hair, pinches her cheeks, and puts on a pretty dress. She is glad she fits into the sample sizes from her Titi’s factory, and heads out to church with Titi. Little did she know her life would forever change.

Raul Resto Y Mijon is the Sunday School Teacher for the 16 and older, single young adults. He had been studying to be a minister for quite some time now. He worked at a Mannequin factory in Manhattan alongside his brothers during the day and took classes to be a minister in the evenings and Saturday. This was his only “free” day. He is wearing his “minister uniform” a blue suit with a white shirt.

In walks Maria, and he immediately introduces himself to her and welcomes her into his class. That day after Sunday School and the regular church service he speaks to Ramona asking if he can stop by for coffee and he would bring the desserts. Titi said yes.

Raul brought Pastelillos de Guayaba (Puff pastry with guava paste), and Titi provided the Cafe Bustelo.

Raul, Maria, and Ramona spent the afternoon getting to know one another. A lovely day was had by all. What Raul didn’t know was that a guy named Nicasio Morales has brought a watermelon the day before to impress Maria. Maria wasn’t impressed by Nicasio. Maria was impressed by Raul. So every Sunday for the next two months after church Raul would bring pastries over to share with Maria and Ramona.

Doesn’t 1953 seem like such a long time ago? What was going on in 1953 to encourage Maria, and so many to leave Puerto Rico? I wanted to know. So I went looking in Newspapers.com. The political climate in Puerto Rico had changed. Puerto Rico was no longer just a vacation destination with beautiful beaches, and Caribbean breezes. The job market was scarce, people were leaving for better opportunities. Puerto Rico was trying to become completely independent of the United States, with the full support of president Eisenhower. Our ancestors in Puerto Rico were scared about how they were going to support their families. So many left the island they loved.

Two months after Raul and Maria’s first coffee and dessert date Raul told Maria he couldn’t live without her and would she agree to marry him. He didn’t have a ring because he wanted her to pick it out. He suggested they go to the jeweler where all the couples in church would go purchase their engagement rings.

Maria knew all those couples were spending just about $1,000. Well she didn’t want to start their marriage with debt, so she said they should wait until they could pay for it in full. Of course Titi knew this is what was holding up the engagement, and shared this with her friend Monsita. Well it just so happens Monsita’s son was going to propose to his girlfriend and she broke it off before he had the chance. He asked his mother to get rid of the ring. All she wanted was $100 for the ring. Once Raul and Maria learned about the ring they jumped at the chance to start planning their lives. Titi loaned them the money.

My mother, Maria, has never been a person who likes debt. If you can’t pay it off in a month or two then save up and buy it later. This is one of the lessons I’ve learned and tried to instill in my children. So with that thought in mind she told Raul that she wanted to wait and save up to have a nice wedding, not lavish, nice.

I’m going to assume my mom was most likely making minimum wage which in 1953 was $.75 per hour, $30 per week, $120 per month before taxes! How in the world was she going to afford to buy a wedding dress? In comes another connection of Titi’s, Sister Ross. Sister Ross, a bridal shop owner, told my mother she would make her wedding dress with left over fabric she had. Mom just had to buy the notions, button, zippers, lace etc. a total of $35. Wow!! My mother’s 1st cousin, Miguel Angel Ramos and his wife Carmen Lydia Colon Y Serrano offered to host the reception in their home, as their gift. The wedding bouquet consisted of Jasmine flowers, a gift from Titi. The wedding photographer, keepsake 18″ x 28″ frame and large photo was a gift from a neighbor in her same building, another friend of Titi’s. The invitations yet another gift.

On 6 March 1954, nine months after their meeting, my parents, Raul Resto and Maria T. Marin were married, right across the street from where my mother lived.

The love story has continued for 69 years, Amor Eterno (Eternal Love). On 25 February 2012, my dad passed away and is now DANCING WITH THE ANGELS. The love of her life still lives on in her heart, the heart of their daughters, grandchildren and great great granddaughter. By the Grace of God we will see each again.

Dad wrote a note which we found in his Bible after he passed away.

“To my daughters, I’m sure that I’ll be going to a better place. My only sadness is to leave my dear Teresa. Please take care of her. She has been my everything. Wish I was given a longer life to care for her but God has everything under control. Love you all, Dad.”

One day I’ll see my dad again. We’re only here for such a short time.

Lilly Resto Gunderman