Celestina Bragil Membrere's Obituary
Celestina “Maria” Bragil Membrere was born on November 9, 1929 in Lipit, Manaoag, Pangasinan, Philippines where she lived and went to school up to third grade. Her parents were Fidel Bragil and Roberta Pasamonte. She was one of the 11 children of which two were adopted. She was the very last survivor of her family.
As a young lady, she was among others that went town to town to work in the rice fields. One town was San Juan, San Manuel, Pangasinan where she met the love of her life,” Camilo Delos Santos Membrere.” They joined in marriage in January 21, 1950. In April 1972, she and her remaining children relocated to Honolulu, Hawaii to join her husband and two older kids.
Due to medical issues, her husband wished her to stop working. So, she never worked much in the corporate world; although, she spent awhile in the clothing factory as a seamstress. Granting her husband’s wish, she focused her labor in the care and well being of her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, hanai kids, and many other children of which she took care of like they were her own.
While living in Hawaii, she and her family enjoyed attending Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in downtown Honolulu.
During her early years, she and her husband enjoyed going out with their good friends, Rudy & Marina DeViera.
In January 2000, she and her husband celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. By 2009, she and her husband followed her daughter and grandson, Juanita and Tony, by relocating to Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2013, she moved back to Honolulu with her husband and daughter. After the lost of her husband, she and her daughter, Juanita returned to Las Vegas, Nevada where she resided till the hour of her passing.
She is best described as friendly, loving, caring, giving and very well respected. She enjoyed cooking, baking her kankanen, going to the movies, playing slot machines and bingo in the casinos, watching the TFC filipino teleserye and video chatting with the family.
She was blessed with 9 children, (5 boys; Rogelio, Guillermo, Benjamin, Efren, Ismael and 4 girls; Tessie, Marcela, Juanita, Mila), 21 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren.
Her greatest treasure in life was the LOVE of her family.
Maria is survived by her two sons, Benjamin (Marivic) Membrere and Ismael (Nelly) Membrere, Sr.; four daughters, Tessie (Alfredo) Francisco, Marcela (Ernest) Sebastian, Juanita Membrere and Mila (Gerry) Cadiente; 21 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren.
Celebration of life and wake service for Maria is scheduled for Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary; visitation from 5:30 – 9:00 p.m. and service to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at Our Lady of the Mount Catholic Church; visitation from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., Mass at 11:00 a.m., with burial service to follow 12:30 p.m. at Valley of the Temples Memorial Park.
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