Carmelita Augustin's Obituary
Carmelita "Carmen/Letty" Augustin
9/6/38 - 7/18/11
Viewing will be held July 24 - Noon to 9 pm; July 25 - 8 am to 9 pm. Rosary 7 pm each evening at Mountain View Funeral Home. Funeral Mass July 26 at 11 am at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, Lakewood. Arrangements by Mountain View Funeral Home.
Carmelita Cables Augustin was born on September 6th, 1938 in Baguio City, Philippines. As a teenager in 1953, she immigrated to America with her parents Emilio and Consuelo Cables, brothers Loreto, Rudy, Arthur and Ben, and sisters Star, Mila and Tehani. The family first settled in Tacoma, WA, and eventually settled in nearby Lakewood, WA. It was in Lakewood where she met Rufo Herrera Augustin and instantly, they both fell in love. After dating for some time they married on September 8th, 1956 at St. Frances Cabrini Church in Lakewood, WA. Her husband Rufo was in the United States Army and they were stationed and lived in many different cities around the globe.
Carmelita found an interest and passion in cutting hair and attended cosmetology school to become a Beautician. Once she became licensed to cut hair, she worked as a Beautician and women's wigs technician at JC Penney at the Tacoma Mall in Tacoma, WA. Her love for cutting hair extended past her career and reached to cutting hair for family and relatives on the side.
She and Rufo raised four children: Rufo, Jr., Patrick, Evelyn and Erik. They were blessed with additions to the family: Five grandchildren (Stephanie, Rebecca, Ryan, Cory [deceased] and Tehani; and four great-grandchildren (Ryder, Finley, Fancy, Crew). An aficionado of music, Carmelita loved to sing and dance. She was known for having an excellent singing voice and also known to cook up some of the best Filipino dishes in the community. Her love of travel with family brought her great joy. Carmelita was a compassionate person and dedicated a lot of her time in spreading the good word of the Lord to prisoners at McNeil Island and Western State Hospital in Steilacoom, WA. She often expressed that Prison Ministry was her calling in life. She was very much respected amongst her peers and held close ties to the Lakewood Filipino Community. Carmelita Cables Augustin will be greatly missed.
What’s your fondest memory of Carmelita?
What’s a lesson you learned from Carmelita?
Share a story where Carmelita's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Carmelita you’ll never forget.
How did Carmelita make you smile?