2,996: I Remember Sonia Ortiz

Sonia Ortiz

When I signed up to be a part of the 2,996 tribute to the victims of the 9/11 attacks, I was randomly assigned Sonia Ortiz.

I knew I would need to do some research on Sonia, but I kept putting it off, which in and of itself isn't unusual, as I'm a bit of a procrastinator. But when I finally started in earnest yesterday, I knew why I'd kept finding excuses to wait until the last minute - it was painful. Painful because I couldn't help thinking of the people who were left behind after Sonia's death - her murder, and read, in their own words, how their lives were changed forever on September 11, 2001.

I'm one "fortunate majority" in this country - I didn't lose anyone close to me on 9-11. I've felt the pain of loss. I've had the opportunity to say goodbye to someone as disease slowly overtook them, and I've felt the pain and despair of losing someone suddenly, before "their time," but I cannot imagine what it must have been like five years ago for the husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, children and friends of the 2,996 people who died as a result of the September 11th attacks. I just don't have any point of reference. But I've known loss, so my heart goes out to Sonia's family, and I hope time - as it often does - helps to blunt their pain.

Sonia at 15

Sonia Ortiz was born and raised in Colombia, where she was forced to work as a seamstress from an early age. After she immigrated to the United States in 1971, she landed a job as a janitor at the World Trade Center.

"She was so excited working in such a tall building near the sky.".

Alexa Ortiz said her mother was delighted to land a job as a trade center janitor.

"It paid good," she said. "Her English wasn't good and it was a job where she didn't have to talk much." Eventually she was promoted to run the freight elevator at Windows on the World, the restaurant near the top of 1 World Trade. "She was so excited working in such a tall building near the sky," said Sonia's son, Victor, a building painter. "She had so much pride that King Kong was made there. She said she met Michael Jackson one day."

"Everything we have today is because of her."

With her earnings, she bought a tidy two- story brick house in Flushing, Queens, that she filled with fanciful knicknacks, including place mats with pictures of cherubs, and porcelain figurines of fairy tale characters. In her free time, she loved to stitch and sew, creating ornate outfits, such as the dress for her daughter's coming-out party. "Everything we have today is because of her," said her son, Victor.

In the photograph that her children have posted on bulletin boards of the missing, Mrs. Ortiz is dressed demurely in her work outfit -- white blouse and black bow tie -- what the picture doesn't show is the book she is holding - a Spanish-language book about life after death. Her children said she became fascinated with that subject after her son, Wilson, died of a brain aneurysm at only 26, just nine years before Sonia's untimely passing.

When Wilson died in 1992, Sonia buried him in Pinelawn Cemetery, paying for two plots. She told her family that upon her death she wanted to be buried next to him.

"Everything is paid for," said daughter Alexa. "All we need is her."

“She was absolutely [convinced] there is a God and an afterlife,” said her daughter, Alexa. “She always said she wanted to be up there with my brother. If there’s any comfort, it’s knowing that she’s with him now.”

Shortly after the hijacked planes crashed into the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, Sonia Ortiz called her sister from work and said that she was slowly making her way down. Her family never heard from her again.

After being allowed to visit Ground Zero, Alexa Ortiz said she has lost all hope her mother is alive, but she hopes her mother's body is recovered so she can fulfill her mother's burial request.

"Please let me get her body," Ortiz said. "Let me at least get her body."

From Sonia's family:

Mom,
It's been almost 2yrs since Sept 11,2001 and I miss you still so much. Life hasnt been the same. I think of you every day every moment. You were not just my mom, you were my best friend. I never knew how painful it was to lose a mom, but to lose a mom the way I lost you is just so unfair. I pray that you are at gods side and that his angels watch over you and let you know that we will try to be ok. It's been very tough but we will try.

I miss you mom. If I could give my own life just to have you back I would, but unfortuantely that's not how god wanted it. He needed you I guess, as hard as that is for me to accept. At times I think Im just going to fall apart, but then I say to myself, god has a reason for why this happened. Why? I dont know, but he must think were strong enough to handle this, and Im not really sure I am. May you rest in peace. I'll lite a candle for you every day until I know for sure that all the DNA is done on all the remains that are still pending, when they are done I will turn off my candle and let you go.

I'll always love you and carry with me all your good qualities and all the good morals you taught me. Miss you mom...Miss you alot. Rest in peace. I love you. Your daughter who misses you alot. Alexa
alexandra ortiz

People have told me that life goes on.... and that we should let go of the past and grasp the future. Thats something I havent been able to do and probably never will. Life will never be the same and I will keep my mother alive by adding her to my music videos and pictures. Te estrano madre!!!!! xoxoxoxoxo
Victor Ortiz

Sonia, Halloween, 2000

I've never met Sonia Ortiz, but Im about to marry her son. I feel like I know her because Ive seen so many pictures of her and have see the love that her son has for her through his art work and movies. If she could hear me, Id let her know what a great job she did at molding the son that she has into the man of my life. I wish I could just have 1 hour with her so I could tell her all the things I feel about her son and all the love he has for her. Although I think she already knows what a great person he is. I know Mrs. Ortiz and I would have gotten along great, and even though I never met her I will greatly miss having her as a mother in law, and my love for her is still strong even though she is no longer here with us. She will always be alive in our household for she is kept alive through stories, pictures and videos. RIP.

Amanda

Dear Mom ,
Mothers day came and went and I feel so cheated. Everyone had a mother to gift and I didnt . I miss you so much. May you be in peace and with wilson. I love you madre!!!!

May 2006
VICTOR HUGO

GRANDMA I MISS YOU VERY MUCH AND LOVE YOU. I KNOW YOU ARE IN HEAVEN WHATCHING OVER ME DADDY AND I MISS YOU SO MUCH AND KNOW ONE DAY WE WILL SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN. I REMEMBER EVERYTHING THAT HAPPEN EVEN THOUGH I WAS VERY LITTLE I'M 10 NOW AND HAVE LOTS OF PICTURES OF US TOGETHER SINCE I WAS BORN MY MOM AND I REMEMBER YOU ALL THE TIME AND MISS YOU ALWAYS TALK ABOUT YOU WE KEEP YOU ALIVE BECAUSE EVENTHOUGH WE DIDN'T FIND A BODY TO BURY WE KNOW YOU ARE ALWAYS WITH US. WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU SO MUCH.

FATIMA

Rest in Peace, Sonia.

Photos and family quotes from Sonia's Legacy.com page and September 11, 2001 Victims.

You'll find a list of the other 2,996 tributes here.

 

Comments

[Ali V]

Beautiful job, i'm sure she's smiling down from heaven... knowing those she left have this chance to remember her, and we get to know her.

I will not forget.

[Patriot Xeno]

Best tribute I've read so far.

Nice work

[AnonymousDrivel]

Touching remembrance, John.

I hope Ms. Ortiz's family finds peace and relief from it and that we all find the resolve to force as much justice as is possible on our respective journeys to righteousness.

[TT]

Good Tribute!

I will not forget 9/11.

And, I think those responsible should be brought to justice.

[Chad Evans]

Very nicely done . . .

"But when I finally started in earnest yesterday, I knew why I'd kept finding excuses to wait until the last minute - it was painful. Painful because I couldn't help thinking of the people who were left behind after Sonia's death - her murder, and read, in their own words, how their lives were changed forever on September 11, 2001."

. . . and very nicely said.

[Dodger]

Well done John.

[Henry]

RIP Sonia.

A moving tribute.

Thank you.

[Shamalama]

Thank you for being part of the 2,996 Project.

When we say “never forget” we have to start by remembering.

Common Folk Using Common Sense is remembering Sandra Conaty Brace:

Sandy lived in Stapleton, Staten Island, and took the 7:40 a.m. ferry across the harbor each day to her job at Risk Insurance Solutions, where she was an administrative assistant. She shared her house with a husband, David, and 25 cats. Well, maybe not exactly 25. “It’s probably more,” Mr. Brace said, “But I lose count.”

On Monday, Sept. 10, 2001, Mrs. Brace, 60, took the day off from work to do chores, fix the carpeting on the stairs that had been torn by a cat, and watch “Judge Judy” on television. Mr. Brace came home at 5 p.m.

He asked her: “Why don’t you take another vacation day tomorrow?” She replied, “No, I think I’ll go to work.”

“And that’s what happened,” Mr. Brace said. “That’s what happened.”

[Jane]

thanks very much

[meowkaat]

Those photographs were heartbreaking. The life in her.... I pray that she is with her sonnow, at peace, in great joy.

[FedUp]

This is the best tribute I have seen. Thank you for honoring her life and helping me to know Sonia.

I will NEVER forget 9-11; I have pictures of the 2nd plane hitting the second Tower and pics of both Towers on fire hanging in my office. This visual reminder everyday keeps my resolve strong.

[Skye]

A touching tribute to a life interrupted.

Well Done

Skye

In Memory of Marcello Matricciano
WTC - Cantor Fitzgerald

[Bedazzzled1]

This is absolutely heartbreaking. But you can bet her son was, indeed, there to greet her upon entering Heaven.

[webloafer]

John, this is the best tribute I've come across. God bless you for this effort of yours.

Tears of rememberence are good. They do help heal a nation, but the scars to the family, will never fade, they shed many more tears.

My plans are to spend whatever time it takes to visit....and read....every tribute the people of the world have blogged. Yes, some tributes are from Great Britain, Mexico, Canada and other nations.

Great tribute. I have blogmarked your blog to remind me to come back.

RIP Sonia Ortiz, and peace and understanding to the big extended family that still wonders WHY?