Obituary for Filomena Hirang Desuasido

Filomena "Fely" Desuasido

March 21, 1928 - May 19, 2019

Nanay Fely passed away peacefully on May 19, 2019 surrounded by family in their Daly City residence.  She was born in Binan, Laguna, Philippines on March 21, 1928 to parents Ignacio De Guzman Hirang and Irene Castrillo.  In 1950, she married Felix Reis Desuasido of Sorsogon Bicol, who had setted in Binan, Laguna after escaping from the Bataan Death March.

 She and Felix were hard-working, successful store owners in the Binan Public market. They would later build and operate a rice mill, which was considered the most efficient and advanced at the time it was completed.  They were devout Catholics, very active Cursillisatas and head of the Adoracion Nocturna. Aside from being a passionate businesswoman, Nanay Fely was a schooled dressmaker and an excellent cook.  Her children would swear by her "morcon" and other Tagalog dishes. 

In 1982 they obtained their U.S. residency status.  They would travel between the Philippines and the U.S. many times to make sure they spent time with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren on each side of the ocean. 

She was preceded in death by her son Joel, her brother Ramon, and by her husband Felix.  She was loved by their 7 children, Chito, Ivan, Joel (+), Socrates, Israel, Alexis "Echit" and only daughter Joselita; and by their spouses and in-laws: Gloria Mae, Myna, Tina, Angie, Celia, Ana, Lorna, Cynthia and Ronaldo.

After the death of Tatay Felix in 2001, one year after celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary, Nanay Fely continued to oversee the rice mill.  In 2013, her U.S.-based children requested her to stay permanently in the U.S., when she could no longer travel by herself.  At age 85, Nanay Fely had lost most of her central vision due to macular degeneration.  She spent her last 6 years at Ivan's home.  The family took turns caring for her.  Thankfully, except for her vision problem and dementia, she did no suffer any physical illness.

Nanay Fely was very proud of the size of her family.  From her 4 children residing in the Philippines, she had 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

In the U.S., she enjoyed the company of her 3 sons and their spouses, 13 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.  She taught the younger kids native songs and regaled them with stories of her life in the Philippines. Despite her deteriorating eye sight, she enjoyed making "pasyal" (gallivanting) with her grandchildren, who drove her around the city.

The family would grieve and miss their happy and caring Nanay and Lola, but they would be comforted by their faith and by the knowledge that they have been given the opportunity to reciprocate her love and her generosity.  The Desuasidos invite their friends and loved ones to join them in their Thanksgiving prayer to honor the gift of life, extremely grateful to the Lord to have had so many loving memories with Nanay/Lola Fely.