Maria Obello Blakely was born on May 14, 1948 in Buabua, Salcedo, Eastern Samar in the Philippines. She made her transition from this earthly life on January 7, 2020 in Fontana, California. Her parents and 6 siblings proceeded her in death. In her youth, she loved helping her family with fishing and farming. Her parents Cleto Sr. and Adela Docena Obello’s family eventually grew to 12 children. Maria helped her mother by baking loaves of bread every day. Her formal schooling was completed in her local community.
As a military wife, Maria moved to the United States with her two young daughters, Maryann and Teresa in 1974. She enjoyed being a homemaker until all of her children were of high school age. One of Maria’s hobbies was making ceramic art, but she was also an avid bowler who averaged approximately 170 points per game. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She was the bravest, strongest, most loving person anyone could ever know. She was born to love, and that’s exactly what she did every day of her life.
Survivors include her husband: Ronald Dean (Deacon) Blakely; two daughters: Maryann White-Penright and Teresa Smith; one son: Ronald Carter Blakely; four grandchildren: Tyraann Loring, Naomi, William, and Bailey Smith; and two great grandsons Robert Dawson and Kristopher Loring.
Other survivors include: six siblings Florencio, Pio, Natividad, Elisa, Frederico, and Cleto Jr., as well as numerous brothers and sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, and cousins.
