“Son, haven’t you learned that it is a privilege to die?”

Bishop Ricardo Ramirez

Panchita Espitia was a formidable woman, not afraid of rattlesnakes underfoot on the Texas ranches of her youth or of death itself. Her grandson, Bishop Ricardo Ramirez, learned this near the end of her life, when he realized some spiritual lessons can only be passed down by our elders.

Bishop Ramirez came to StoryCorps to remember his abuelita.

Listen to Bishop Ricardo Ramirez’s original StoryCorps interview.

Para subtítulos en español, haga click en el ícono de YouTube en la esquina derecha, y escoja “Spanish” bajo la opción de “settings” y “subtitles/CC.