Remembering My Mother, Aurora Sierras Bertaut

My mother was sweet, smart, loving, compassionate, and caring. She wanted to make the world a better place—and in many ways, she did. Finding these old home movies has been life-altering for me. In one clip, my dad is behind the camera, and my mom walks by, winking at him with a twinkle in her eye. The man holding me is my grandfather—my dad’s dad. It’s a fleeting moment, but it captures so much of who she was.

This week marks 55 years since my mom’s suicide. Every year, I write tributes to her—what I remember, what I learned from her life, and what I discovered after her death. But this year, I wanted to do something more. I’ll be sharing a series of stories—some joyful, some painful, all true—about my mom and the journey of losing her so young.

Through these stories, I hope to show not only who she was, but also what she left behind in me: her creativity, her compassion, her courage. Even in her absence, she led me to my purpose and my passion for living.

For the next few days, I invite you to walk with me through memory—into my mom’s world, into the grief of her leaving, and into the healing and hope that eventually followed. My intention is to touch your heart and remind you: even in loss, love never truly disappears.

I love you, Mom. 💕