Beatrice (Trevino) Trevino

If we were all like angels, the world would be a heavenly place. – Author Unknown

There are many types of angels from mighty archangels to meek guardian angels, but there is a special class of “angels” that walk alongside us day to day. Unlike these other angels, we see them smiling at us, welcoming us, hugging us, and laughing with us. These angels, though seen with the naked eye, are not very common. Some people only meet one in their lifetime. One of these special angels stood out from the rest. This beautiful angel blessed a family with her love, her faith, her kindness, and her forgiveness. Beatrice Trevino, a true angel on earth, lived a life of beauty, faith, and love.

As American poet James Russell Lowell described, “All God’s angels come to us disguised.” For the Trevino family, their little angel came disguised as a baby girl on Tuesday, November 21, 1967 in Dallas, Texas. From the beginning, little Beatrice, meaning “bringer of joy,” created so much love and joy into her family. She was a very happy little girl who always made everyone smile. Her good heart and sweet nature only grew as she became older. Beatrice never met a stranger; she was kind to all. Like her favorite flower, the sunflower, she had such a bright and radiant attitude. Not only did she have a heart of gold, but she had a faith that could move mountains. Beatrice was a very devote woman of God who believed in the power of prayer. Whether it was for small matters or critical problems, Beatrice was always there to pray for others and to pass on the prayer requests. In one instance, a friend’s dog was close to dying. Instead of giving condolences and well wishes, Beatrice stopped to pray and reached out to friends and family to pray for the beloved dog. With her great memory, she would check in on others to see if they needed more prayer. Her faith was a defining part of her life, and she acted upon her faith with full belief and love. Beatrice joined a nunnery for a while in hopes of becoming a nun to serve her Lord. While at the nunnery, her faith grew as well as her friendships especially with Sister Mary Grace, the head of the nunnery. The two women of God were very close to each other in friendship and in service. All who met Beatrice claimed she was like an angel with her unwavering faith in God as well as her gentle disposition. Her caring and giving nature reflected God’s love and grace, and so many were blessed by her.

Through prayer and service, Beatrice cared for others and brought joy to their lives, but she also made time to bring joy to herself as well. According to theologian G.K. Chesterton, “the reason angels can fly is because they take themselves lightly.” Beatrice floated throughout her days not dwelling upon worries or anxieties, but instead finding joy or happiness in the world around her. One thing that brought Beatrice joy was her art. She was very gifted and talented at painting and drawing. Beatrice’s masterpieces included pictures of her family, nature, and aspects of her faith such as God’s hand reaching down to earth. Another way that Beatrice expressed her artistic side was through poetry and songs. She wrote many poems and songs describing her life and faith. Beatrice would also write songs for others, including the nurses that took care of her. While Beatrice created beauty in the world through her artwork and poetry, she also enjoyed making herself beautiful. She was always into fashion and dressing up. One of her favorite accessories were always hats. She loved to wear her hats no matter the weather or event. Beatrice added to her fashion by making jewelry. Her jewelry was like wearable art for her. Despite her hats and jewelry, Beatrice’s most defining and radiant accessory was always her smile! She lit up a room and warmed hearts when she smiled. Among other joys in life, Beatrice enjoyed various types of foods and drinks. Some of her favorite foods included supreme pizzas, the Filet-o-Fish at McDonald’s, and Wendy’s Spicy Chicken Sandwich. When she wanted to indulge a bit, she liked to get a White Chocolate Mocha from Starbucks, but her all-time favorite drink was Dr. Pepper. She was a true Dr. Pepper fan! Another thing that brought joy to Beatrice was her family. Her siblings meant the world to her, and her nieces and nephews always held a special place in her golden heart. She always strove to love her family even when it proved difficult at times. When she was wronged or hurt by her family, she readily forgave them. As Saint Thérèse de Lisieux proclaimed, “Let us not be justices of peace, but angels of peace,” and true to her angelic ways, Beatrice was always a very forgiving person. She loved her family so dearly much!

If love could make a person stay with us, Beatrice would have stayed with her family and continued her loving service for others forever. However, to the sorrow of her family and friends, Beatrice Trevino passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2020 in Fort Worth, Texas. Beatrice took the hands of angels and flew to meet her Lord. Amongst choirs of angels, surrounded by the beauties and wonders of Heaven, Beatrice is singing her songs and living in everlasting joy.

Beatrice Trevino is survived by her siblings, Mary Jessie Craig, Gracie DeHoyos, Jerry Trevino, Benita Trevino, Margaret Romero, Alfred Brown, Ed Brown, and Fred Trevino, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Beatrice’s legacy of love, faith, and joy will never be forgotten by those she loved and those who were richly blessed to know her. In honor of Beatrice and her loving heart, “be an angel to someone else whenever you can, as a way of thanking God for the help your angel has given you” (Eileen Elias Freeman), for Beatrice was an angel to all.