[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 10171-10172]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING JUANA SEQUEIRA SOLIS ON HER 80TH BIRTHDAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. HILDA L. SOLIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 6, 2006

  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise tonight to 
honor my mother, Juana Sequeira Solis, who celebrated her 80th birthday 
yesterday.
  My mom was born in Jinotega, Nicaragua, on June 5, 1928, to Ramon 
Sequeira Arauz and Lucia Diaz Moeller. As a young child, she faced many 
obstacles due to the death of her father Ramon. At the age of 17, she 
immigrated to the United States and resided for a time in New Orleans, 
LA. After a few years, she moved to Los Angeles, CA, where she met her 
husband Raul Sanchez Solis. They married in 1953, and had 7 children, 
which led to 10 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren. While raising 
her children in La Puente, CA, she took classes to improve her English 
and culinary skills. In addition, she was active in the PTA at the 
schools attended by her children.

[[Page 10172]]

  When the youngest of her children turned 5, my mom began work at 
Mattel Inc. After 22 years of service, Juana retired from her job as an 
assembler. Although she had a double shift, working full-time and 
raising a large family along with her husband, she never regretted the 
sacrifices she made to maintain family cohesion, which has been a major 
driving force in her life.
  Throughout her life, my mom made every effort to instill strong 
values in her children, including a strong work ethic and the ability 
to overcome adversity. Her life demonstrates that people can rise above 
unfortunate circumstances and humble beginnings. She has proven this by 
her charity work with the elderly residents of her neighborhood and 
others in need. The abundance of compassion and love that she has to 
offer to others has been unrestricted throughout her life and she has 
modeled qualities that have been inculcated in everyone she comes in 
contact with.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my six siblings and our extended family, I 
rise today to send happy birthday wishes to our beloved mom, Juana 
Sequeira Solis. Feliz cumpleanos.

                          ____________________