Magdalena Gaza Javier

Magdalena Gaza Javier was a dedicated and compassionate homemaker for more than 30 years. Blessed with a heart of genuine gold, she was loving and caring to all people she came across lives with. With a hand always ready to help, a sunburst smile, a joyful personality and an overflowing positivity, any room she entered she just lit its four walls up.

Born in Pampanga, Philippines on the 21st of November in the year of our Lord 1959, Magdalena was raised by her hardworking parents, Virginia “Viring” Gaza (deceased) and Jose Gaza (deceased) in their humble home in San Antonio, Floridablanca, Pampanga. Lena, as everyone would call her, was the 7th among her brothers and sisters, namely: Fernando “Boy” Gaza, Priscilla “Essie” Gaza Salvador, Honorio “Nonong” Gaza, Florsefina “Pong” Gaza Torres (deceased), Jose “Totsie” Gaza (deceased), Nereo “Ner” Gaza, Immanuel “Bosio” Gaza, Teresita “Sally” Gaza-Pangilinan and Diosdado “Dado” Gaza. Living in a provincial setting, her hands have been dexterously calloused by agriculture from an early age while helping her parents farm together with her siblings.

Lena strived hard on her education. At the age of 20, she finished Bachelors of Arts in Commerce at Guagua National College in Guagua, Pampanga. She practiced her profession but only for a few years until she got married. On May 3, 1981, she made her vows with Rodolfo Olaes Javier Jr in Aglipay Catholic Church, Noveleta, Cavite. They were blessed with three wonderful and healthy children: one girl they named Ronelli, and two boys they named Ron Kenneth and Renz Marion.

Magdalena decided to become a full-time homemaker while her husband, Rodolfo Jr, became an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) as a senior accountant in Dammam, Saudi Arabia which he did for more than 30 years. With the help and guidance of the Lord, Lena and Junior were able to raise their family. At present, Ronelli, Kenneth and Renz are all US Registered Nurses. Lena was blessed with beautiful grandchildren. Ronelli, married to Sherwin Sahagun, gave her two: a girl named Kirsten Lei, and a boy named Kacey Eryll while Kenneth, married to Lara Jamon Javier, gave her a grandson named Adam Reid.

Lena loves to cook. In family gatherings and occasions, she would immediately take on the role of the head chef. Her favorites were kare-kare, menudo, caldereta and sinigang among many others. She has her own special recipe she coined ‘Lena’s beef sauce’, and that of fried chicken wings which is the most unforgettable. There is no bad day that her cooking cannot blow away. Lena also has a passion for gardening and karaoke singing. She was known to bring laughter and comfort to her family and friends through both good and bad times.

Regrettably, her passing saddened so many. On the 28th of September in the year of our Lord 2014 at 10:40 pm, in her home in San Diego, California, she bid farewell to her family and joined the Lord in His loving arms. She was diagnosed with cancer on February 26, 2014 and there was no doubt that the succeeding seven months were the hardest battle of her life. Lena fought cancer courageously alongside her family. In the end, God has gifted Lena and her family a peaceful victory.

Lena was a loving wife, a caring mother, a great friend and an ardent lover of Christ. Her marvelous bravery will forever live on in the hearts of the people she touched. She will surely be missed.

Arrangements under the direction of Glen Abbey Mortuary, Bonita, CA.