Grace Cabrera
Gracie was born in Maasin, Iloilo City, on Pano Island in the Philippines. She was the third of eight children. Her parents separated when she was little, and her mother struggled to raise her children in poverty. Gracie took many of the household chores upon herself. Despite the responsibilities she shouldered, she was a cheerful and joyous child.
Grace entered the workforce at a young age, to help support the family. She worked in Manila, where she met Domingo at church. During their courtship, Grace began working in Hong Kong, and she only returned home to marry him in 2006. Roughly two years later, the couple adopted Benedict, a two-month-old baby who is now fifteen years old.
In 2019, Grace was able to fulfill her dream of working in Israel, the Holy Land. She spent one year as a caregiver in Ashkelon, where she met a friend who lived on Be’eri, and that was how she came to the kibbutz and began caring for Aviva Sela.
Her bond with Aviva was immediate. Gracie showed appropriate concern, without being bothersome. She knew how to adapt herself to any situation, to be present or fade into the background. They liked to tour around the kibbutz together, whether taking the motorized scooter along the ring road, or the walker to and from the gate. They stopped for frequent rests, and were both always cheerful and smiling, exchanging little gestures that said everything without words. Gracie could predict what Aviva needed or wanted, and Aviva could laugh at everything, including herself. They took their strolls, went to the dining room for socializing and a healthy meal, and sometimes enjoyed simply watching the commotion of kibbutz residents and children. The many branches of the Sela family loved Gracie and appreciated the warm care she provided for Aviva. She quickly became a full member of the tribe. The kibbutz and the Sela family were her paradise. Her work in Israel enabled her to help her siblings, nieces and nephews to earn a higher education, which was her way to give them hope for a better future.
Eventually, Gracie managed to bring her youngest sister, Mary Jane, to the kibbutz. They met every single day, had lunch together, and sometimes dinner. Mary Jane would buy the ingredients needed for Gracie to cook comforting Filipino dishes. Gracie was also active in the circle of foreign caregivers on the kibbutz. She was always in the middle of the action, decorating for holiday parties, organizing get-togethers, baking cakes or dishes they missed, bringing everyone together.
Life went by pleasantly until October 7. Upon hearing the air-raid sirens, Gracie took Aviva into the safe room, and had time to gather all of Aviva’s medication, just in case. They waited together in the safe room, hoping the incident would end soon. But the terrorists entered the house and turned it into their headquarters. They spent roughly four hours in the house, and later brought in Adi and then Sandra, who was injured, with her two children. Despite being handcuffed and fearful, Gracie got up to help, bringing clothes and water.
At around 3 p.m., the terrorists took everyone out of the house and marched them to the road. Shots were fired. Everyone scattered in all directions. From that point on, we have no clear information on what happened. All we know is the end result: Aviva never saw her beloved Gracie again. Sandra managed to get back home and hide in the safe room until the gunfire ended. She found Aviva sitting on the swing in the yard. Gracie was murdered by the terrorists outside the house.
Gracie, a native of the Philippines, who was soon to turn 45, was murdered many thousands of kilometers from her home, in a war that was not hers. For her, Be’eri was a place of beauty, love, friendship and compassion.
May her memory be a blessing.
