2008 Woodie Awards
Aradillas' spirit, generosity remembered at workshop
Her generosity and support
By Justine Cantu, McCollum High School
Issue date: 6/30/08 Section: Features
Originally published: 6/29/08 at 10:55 AM CSTLast update: 6/30/08 at 11:14 AM CST
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Aradillas, who passed away Oct. 13 at the age of 60, was a volunteer at the Urban Journalism Workshop at San Antonio College, providing food and friendship for many years.
Aradillas began showing her generosity to the workshop when her daughter Elaine Aradillas who participated in the workshop in 1990, became part of the workshop staff.
"Funding was always an issue, so one year we asked mothers of the workshop staff if they could cook for the workshop," said Irene Abrego, journalism instructor and workshop director.
For several years after her participation with UJW, Elaine Aradillas was put in charge of getting meals together, so she called her mom.
"My mom knew the workshop was a pivotal experience for my sister," Aaron Aradillas, son of Isabel Aradillas, said.
Isabel Aradillas provided her famous chicken tacos for all involved in UJW.
"She would stay up all night to shred the chicken," Elaine Aradillas said.
She said her mother was not a very good cook, but everyone loved her chicken tacos.
"When we would get takeout, she would ask, 'So how do you like my cooking?'" Elaine Aradillas said.
Aradillas always wanted to be at the luncheons to serve the food herself. "She loved seeing the kids enjoy her cooking, and the counselors couldn't wait for that meal every year," Abrego said.
After Aradillas' daughter was no longer helping with the workshop, Isabel was still a part of the UJW family.
"Isabel showed up every summer without fail with all the fixings for chicken tacos," Abrego said.
Abrego remembers Aradillas as being young at heart. "When Elaine was trying to decide between jobs, Isabel was really pushing toward the Orlando Sentinel so she could go to Disney World when she visited Elaine."
Aradillas was known as someone who loved young people and being around them, her son said. She always kept up with pop culture.
"She was such a young spirit," Elaine Aradillas said.
She was part of the big extended family at UJW.
"She was kind of a second mother to me," past workshop participant Jennifer Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez also remembers Aradillas being constantly on the go and always busy.
Workshop visuals director Tricia Buchhorn remembers Aradillas' laughter and terrific food.
"Isabel was a cheerleading mom who provided encouragement with her words and nourishment by her food," Buchhorn said.
1989 participant Adrian Zamarron remembers waiting in line for his tacos, catching up with Aradillas about Elaine and his own son.
"It was a good feeling knowing Isabel is here and everything is OK," Zamarron said. "She completed the reunion, but now there is a piece missing."
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