Work Text:
Principal Yasmine Ricardez of Waverly High, located in Peace Valley, Wisconsin, was informing her vice principal she'd be in charge of the school for two weeks. Mrs. Ricardez's family was heading to Mexico for her great-grandmother's funeral.
It was important that all of the family members were present to say goodbye to the matriarch. Surprisingly, her great-grandmother, Bianca, had lived to age 105! So it was extra important that the entire family was there for the funeral. Some of the family still lived in Mexico itself. Others had moved to the USA but still held citizenship in both countries.
Her vice principal, Ms. Angelo, agreed she'd do whatever it took to manage Waverly High while Yasmine was gone. Satisfied that both staff and even the students knew why she'd be gone for two weeks, she felt the students were in safe hands.
So she, her husband Javier, and two daughters, fifteen-year-old Isabel and eleven-year-old daughter Isla, had already been granted the proper paperwork to get them out of school for two weeks. They'd be leaving tomorrow and arriving in central Mexico by Monday. They couldn't fly straight and had to take two different flights.
When Mrs. Ricardez returned to her beautiful two-story home they'd painted to look like a house from Mexico, she felt pride in her cultural heritage. The family maintained their roots while embracing the American culture around them. Thankfully, her family was fluent in both English and Spanish since some of their relatives in Mexico only spoke Spanish.
She called out to her daughters, who were upstairs in their shared bedroom, to ask if they were done packing as they had to leave tomorrow. Her two beautiful daughters came rushing downstairs. Her eldest daughter looked remarkably like Princess Elena of Avalor. Her younger daughter looked like a miniature version of Carla, one of the former antagonists of the show.
“We're all set to go,” Isabel replied, looking sad.
Isla answered why. “We're going to miss the death vigil! There's no way we'll get there in time since she's already died.”
“I know you're worried about that, but don't fret. Even though it's customary to hold the death vigil for 48 hours immediately after death, the family has agreed to put it on hold till everyone gets there. Again, it won't be till Monday since several family members are flying into Mexico from around the USA. So, for your bisabuela's sake, it will be off until we all get there.
She's had her funeral arrangements planned for the last fifteen years. So, it's not a breach of either etiquette or tradition if she said to make an exception till we all got there, okay? Just be prepared to leave.”
Everyone went to bed early because they'd have to leave at four a.m. to catch their first flight. Again, they didn't have a direct flight. They'd tried to get one but unfortunately couldn't get one. They did arrive in central Mexico at the hacienda that had been in their family for generations. According to Bianca's last wishes, it was to be held in the family ancestral home, with every family member being present for her funeral.
As was custom, it was an open casket surrounded by various photos. There were even freshly cut marigolds. Thus began the 48 vigil, where they prayed while playing a few games. Multiple family members had brought food, flowers, and candles as custom. Soon, they'd have the Mass and prayers performed again to welcome the soul's journey into the afterlife.
Every single member of the Ricardez family lit one candle at the Mass before saying their final goodbyes. It was an emotional and meaningful event. But it only serves as a reminder death is yet the next great adventure in life and that those we love never truly leave us.