Cooking, Catharsis, and Connection: Sergio and Eloise’s Story at Valerie’s House
/On a recent group night at Valerie’s House, the warm aroma of freshly made empanadas filled the air as Sergio Aranguren and his daughter Eloise prepared food for families. For Sergio, cooking is more than a skill—it’s a cherished tradition and a way to express love.
Sergio’s empanada recipe has been in his family for generations. “My mother and her sisters would make them on holidays,” he shared. “As a kid, I loved to cook, loved arts, and loved music. I'm a design engineer by trade, so anything that has to do with creativity, I was always enthusiastic about. They let me in the kitchen, and the three sisters, they don’t write anything down, so the only way to really know how to do it is to do it. I started at 16, and 30 years later, I can make them on my own. Now, thanks to them.”
For Sergio, cooking is a therapeutic act. “Cooking is therapy. Cooking is therapeutic. It certainly provides me with the ability to express myself, but at the same time, it’s cathartic,” he explained. “You’re building something for someone special to enjoy for that evening, and hopefully they remember it. It’s everything.”
Since the loss of his wife, Danielle, in September 2022, Sergio has leaned on Valerie’s House as a place of stability and support for himself and Eloise. “Valerie’s House has been one of the most stable things in our lives,” he said. “Obviously, when you lose someone, things could be chaotic. We’re grateful to be able to come and speak how we’re feeling, and also have some private one-on-one sessions as well as group therapies. And I know that we both benefit from those interactions. So we’re grateful to be able to be here.”
Eloise has also found comfort and meaning in the activities offered at Valerie’s House. “I like that we can do some activities in my group that actually show some deeper meaning,” she said. “Sometimes it has a deeper meaning than just fun, fun, new games, like building Legos and stuff.”
For Sergio, cooking for the families at Valerie’s House felt like cooking for his own family. “Our family’s up in New Jersey, and we miss them, so it’s almost like cooking for my family, even though they’re not here,” he shared. “I appreciate everyone here and the volunteers at this beautiful home. If there’s anything that I could do to help Valerie’s House, I will do it, and this is one way I could express that.”
Sergio also plans to pass on his family’s empanada recipe and love of cooking to Eloise one day, continuing the legacy of connection and love through food.
At Valerie’s House, stories like Sergio and Eloise’s remind us that healing comes in many forms. Whether it’s through a warm meal, meaningful activities, or simply a space to share and connect, Valerie’s House is here to ensure that no one grieves alone.
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