Estelita Aquino's Obituary
Estelita deFrancisca Aquino, 88, passed away January 29th, 2014, at Franciscan Hospice House in Tacoma, surrounded by family members and her Creator. One of thirteen children, Estelita was born January 6, 1926, in Samar province in the Philippines, to Angel and Sebastiana deFrancisca. In 1945, at the age of nineteen, Estelita married Victor Aquino, Sr., a 40-year-old soldier, hand-picked by Angel. In 1948, Estelita gave birth to Victor Jr. in Manila, while her husband continued his post-WW II military duties abroad. Vic Sr. was eventually stationed at Ford Ord, CA. In 1951, at age twenty-three, Estelita and three-year-old Vic Jr. journeyed to the US by army transport ship, landing three weeks later in San Francisco where she was reunited with Vic Sr. Apprehension and constant sea-sickness not withstanding, we enjoyed Estelita’s fascinating stories of that trip and her first impressions of America (“a gate made of gold??”). Vic Sr. was stationed at Ft. Lewis where Estelita gave birth to daughter Rhodora. Eventually, the young family settled in Lakewood, WA, where daughters Emily and Florence were born. Becoming a US citizen in 1954 was a particular source of pride for Estelita and she proudly became a fully assimilated American. She and Filipinos of similar experience, including fellow “war brides,” formed a beloved community in their adopted country. These folks really knew how to party, mixing Filipino traditions, food, and music with newfound “American ways”. The Aquino house was always filled with American popular tunes and Estelita was always singing and dancing. Estelita and Vic Sr. worked hard to make sure their children partook of the American dream. Estelita worked on the post as a waitress and laundry worker all while being a tireless homemaker who was always there for her family.
Vic Sr. passed away in June of 1994. Estelita is survived by her children ,Victor Aquino, Jr. (Mary), Rhodora Mann, Emily Patterson (Ray), and Florence McLaughlin (Alan); grandchildren, Brandon, Billy, Max, Flannery, Jordan, Bryan, and Nathan; and great-grandchildren, Ella, Lissy, Gavin, Berlin, and Elliott. Estelita is also survived by many relatives in the Philippines, some of whom we’ve only recently contacted and discovered via Facebook.
Viewing will be held at Mountain View Funeral Home on Wednesday, February 5th, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. A Funeral service will take place on Thursday, February 6th, at the Garden Chapel at 2 p.m., followed by gravesite service. A reception will follow at Mountain View Celebration of Life, Willow Room.
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