Emily Prevatt

Home at 333 West Manhattann

The house was always fun, safe, and full of love. Grandma Padilla let Emily sleep in her bed, and in the mornings Emily would wake up to Spanish radio and the smell of coffee and toast. The bedroom also served as a dining room, and it became Emily's favorite room because it's where she always saw her grandma first thing in the morning.

The smell of Louise's cooking, the sound of the radio, and the calm mornings became cherished routines. Louise taught Emily how to cook, starting with a fried egg at just six years old. She was patient, warm, and always made Emily feel loved.

The house was always full of life. Her great-grandma Louise was always home and always there to greet her with love and warmth. Cousins Debby and Fredda were often around, and sometimes their mom Kathy. Emily's brothers Ray and Gilbert were there too, though her younger brother Frankie wasn't yet born. Louise"s friends often visited as well. Many of JoAnn's siblings and Rosalie lived out of state, so this was the heart of Emily's childhood community.

Memories

Emily's earliest memories take place at 333 West Manhattan, her great-grandma Louise Padilla's house. At just six years old, Emily would take a big taxi-cab from school to get there. Because there was no bus service and no one else to watch her after school, her mom arranged for her to ride in a the taxi-cab, which made her feel fancy when the driver opened the door for her. She had to learn to spell "Manhattan" to write it down on the coupons correctly she learned it as: "Man Hat Tan."

A Special Bond

Emily's relationship with her great-grandma was incredibly close. Louise let her play dress up, do her makeup, and just be a kid. Toward the end of her life, when Louise could no longer see, she would still tell Emily she looked beautiful. "She was the best person ever to me, she was everything to me, she was such an amazing personn and she was so loving" Emily says. Her grandma always made her feel special and loved.

Louise's Personality

She was very funny, kind, and the most loving person. Louise was a funny person and she always knew what was going on, like when Emily's brother snuck alcohol, she'd joke, "Bring me just a little to help me sleep." Louise would always sing and Emily would love to sing to her becsuse she knew her granmda loved to dance.

Life Lessons and Love

Louise loved the church, believed in helping others, and always gave advice, whether about how to cut watermelon, how to cook , or eat dessert, or how to treat people. She was always teaching, always nurturing. Emily learned from her grandmother self-respect, how to choose good company, and how to carry herself with pride and kindness.

Downtown Adventures

Emily wasn't old enough to take her grandma downtown alone, but she'd walk her to the grocery store right across the street, the beauty shop, or Pizza Hut for breadsticks. She and her brother Gilbert walked around with their grandma's dog Peanuts and used the one shared "cousin bike" to explore the town, visit toy stores, and even sneak into hotel pools pretending to be guests. They used to go to Captaion Toys the toy store and the owner would let them play in there for hours. They would also sneak in the Hilton, la Fonda, and Eldorado to go and hang out at the pools.

Emily and Gilbert would make cookies from the cornmeal box recipe and sell them around town for 10 cents. They'd then use the money to buy candy. At home, they climbed trees, jumped onto rooftops, and played hide-and-seek. One time, Emily accidentally hit her grandma with a pear and felt so bad she ran away to Pizza Hut. Louise had never cursed and when she said: "Damn it, kids!" It broke Emily's heart, she thought her granmda was so mad at her.

JoAnn and Louise

JoAnn, raised by Louise, continued the tradition of loving her grandkids with everything she has. She even has custody of some of them now. Just like Louise, she gives her whole heart to her family. Emily says the biggest lesson from both women was how to love and support your kids unconditionally.

Cooking, Traditions, and Teaching

Emily learned to cook from Louise and JoAnn. When she first went to college she would call her mom almost every day for cooking help. Emily continues the traditions by letting her family pick their birthday dinners and hosting celebrations at her own house. She tries to give her kids, nieces, and nephews the same warmth she received growing up. Her mom taught her worth ethic and to alwyasy work for what you want. The most important thing that she learned from both her mother and great-granmother was how to love and treat your kids. she learned what unconditional love is and she loves her kids unconditionally and encourages them in everything they strive for. They taught her what family means and how important it is to preserve it.

What Emily Wants Future Generations to Know

Grandma Padilla

They called her "Grandma Dia" because as kids they couldn't say Padilla. Emily wants everyone to know she was the best person; she was strong, consistent, supportive, and loving. She raised so many on her own and did it with grace.

Her Mom, JoAnn

"I said my grandma was the best person, but my mom was really awesome." She wants people to know how hard JoAnn worked and how much she loved her family. "She always did her best with what was handed to her." She always wants the very best for everyone around her regardless if it's her family or not. She always hopes for the best of everybody. She is a very loving and kind person.

If Emily Could Talk to the House...

Back then she would say, "I Love You." In between she would say, "Thank You." and now she would say, "I Miss You"

Four Generations