Sonia Quimosing Picardal's Obituary
Sonia Quimosing Picardal was born on September 23, 1951 in Gattaran, Cagayan, Philippines. As a young girl, Sonia was playful and adventurous. She spent time at the riverbanks, climbed nearby mountains, and played on the farms to bring home carts of watermelon. Sonia excelled in performing arts in which she had leading roles in various school plays. Her most notable performance was her starring role as Maria in the Sound of Music. She also excelled in academics having graduated as Valedictorian in both elementary and high school. Her academic honors earned her a full ride scholarship to the University of Santo Thomas in Manila.
It was at the University of Santo Thomas where she chose her path and nurtured the dream of her life as a nurse. After college she started her career at the UST Hospital as a Psychiatric Nurse. In 1974, at the age of 23, Sonia crossed the Pacific Ocean and was the first of her family to come to the United States. She landed in Tucker, Georgia then moved to work in Atlanta. At a party in Savannah, Georgia, Sonia met a young Medical Technologist who was in the Navy and who would later become her husband and her life long partner.
In 1976, Sonia married Caesar Picardal. They moved to Lakewood, WA where they raised three daughters together. Sonia dedicated her life to her family, work, and community. She took her girls to the library weekly, was the girl’s biggest and loudest fan at school sporting events, shared her love of music with her daughters and would often join in on karaoke competitions. She found joy in having the entire extended family over. At any given time, family and friends could walk through the door and find freshly-cooked rice and chicken adobo on the stove. There was always a seat at Sonia’s kitchen table, where she insisted her guests eat and were well taken care of. Her hospitality was indicative of a loving mother who cared for any of her guests as a child of her own. One never left her kitchen without feeling satisfied both with a meal and a healthy dose of laughter and conversation.
Sonia worked at St. Joseph Hospital in Tacoma as a critical care nurse for 30 years. Later in her career she became a supervising nurse at both St. Joseph and St. Clare Hospitals. Sonia was an active community leader. She was a volunteer in the Steilacoom School District while her daughters attended school, and was awarded the PTA Acorn Award as Volunteer of the Year. Years later, after her daughter Christina became a teacher, Sonia continued to volunteer as a reading tutor in the school at which Christina taught. For many years, she was an active member of the Filipino-American League of Pierce County and later served as President from 1997-1999. Sonia was also the President of the Board of Directors of Lakewood and initiated the link for Bauang, La Union, Philippines and Lakewood, WA as sister cities. When Sonia was not busy raising children or working, she loved the annual trips back home to the Philippines. She enjoyed road trips to California to visit family. She found quiet moments relaxing with a good book.
In 2008, Sonia was diagnosed with a degenerative brain disease. In March of 2013, she was given the news that her breast cancer had returned in her lungs after ten years of being cancer free. Through her struggles and difficult times, Sonia never lost her courage and spirit. She
enjoyed her time laughing with her grandchildren and watching them play and grow. As a woman of faith, she continued to attend church and trusted in the Lord. On the morning of November 23, 2014, on Christ the King Sunday, Sonia took her last breath surrounded by her family. She is survived by her husband, Caesar; daughter Mariel and son-in-law Vincent; daughter Christina and son-in-law Michael; daughter Catherine and son-in-law Ardon; and five grandchildren – Isaac, Mia Grace, Roman, Xavier, and Julius. She is proceeded in death by her parents, Rizalina and Sofronio Quimosing and younger brother, Sonny Quimosing.
Sonia will be greatly missed. Her legacy lives on and her light shines bright. May she find eternal rest and peace in God’s Kingdom.
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