Carmelita Abando Ermino

Born on January 29, 1945, in Manila, Philippines, to Tito Abando and Anatalia Bartulaba. Carmelita Ermino lived a full, beautiful life defined by grace, kindness, and a deep devotion to her faith, family and community.

She attended Stella Maris Elementary and Manila High School. In 1974, she boarded a plane with her sisters Ofelia and Edna and came to the United States, where she was met at the airport by her loving father.

Soon after arriving, she took on a job with her father at the US Mint, enrolled in college, and became actively involved in the Filipino American community. She studied nursing at City College of San Francisco while working at Hill Haven Hospital, balancing both with grace.

In 1975, she represented the Lakambini Club in the Philippine American Friendship Festival. She was named First Princess of the Pearl of the Orient Club and was crowned Miss Liberty in 1976, escorted by her cousin Chuck Hollanda.

She was also a member of the Samahang Filipino Club, the Asian Coalition of San Francisco, and ran for student council at City College of San Francisco on the Unity Slate earning one of the top seats in the election. Deeply involved in student life, she was elected to the student council with the second-highest number of votes among 14 candidates. It was a public vote of support around everything she stood for as a classmate and visionary for her role.

In 1978, she was a model for the Renée Factor gown collection in “East Meets West”. She proudly represented the Filipino community in the 9th annual Cherry Blossom Festival in 1978 as Miss Filipino America.

Carmelita was just generally a stunning and intelligent role model. A graceful young Filipina with elegance & poise. Committed to her culture, community & service to others in seemingly infinite & effortless abundance.

On May 9, 1979, she married her best friend and longtime penpal, Primotivo. They were married in Pasig, Manila, by the mayor and surrounded by their ninang and ninong. Their love story was the kind that feels like a movie, romantic, lasting, and rare. She had a gift for seeing people for who they truly were, and in Primo, she found someone who matched her strength and devotion. Together, they built a life full of love, laughter, and loyalty. Primo made sure she had everything she needed at all times. Devotionally surrounding her with love, care, and family until the very end.

She loved being a nurse. It was more than a job to her; it was a calling. Her scrubs were always perfectly ironed, her hair just right, and no matter how long her shift, she showed up smiling. She worked at Hill Haven Hospital, Stanford, the VA, and Letterman Army Hospital. She especially loved working the night and graveyard shift, which allowed her to help raise her nieces, nephews, and grandkids during the day. It was not until 2018, that she finally retired in at the age of 73.

With her sister, Ofelia, Carmelita had a rare and special relationship. As sisters, and best of friends, they talked daily, leaned on each other as close confidants through a lifetime of trials, challenges and adventures. In Carmelita’s final years, Ofelia and Primo lovingly cared for her 24/7, never leaving her side. Their sisterhood was deep and true, filled with constant love, laughter, and support. Bolstered by a broadly extending foundation of loving and adoring siblings, nieces, nephews, grandkids and pets too!

Even when her health became more delicate, Carmelita was always thoughtful, considerate and carried an aura of effortless resilience & beauty. She was present with everyone special to her with strength and joy, and Primo made sure she had the best care, food, medicine, and equipment to live as fully and comfortably as possible. His love was steady, quiet, and unwavering, 46 years; into forever.

She believed in being a good role model. And she was, at every stage of her life. As a young woman, she was stylish, warm, and driven. As a nurse, she was dedicated and compassionate. And as a motherly figure and “grandma” to many, she was nurturing, wise, and endlessly generous. Her life was a beautiful progression; a reflection of what it means to grow into yourself with dignity and love.

Carmelita is survived by her beloved husband Primotivo, her siblings Ernesto Abando, Marietta Greenley, Ofelia Langhirt, Ramon Abando, and Tito Abando, and many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and extended family who will carry her love forward…

And let’s not forget her pups! She had a deep love for her dogs, having cared for many over the years. Among them were Prince, Kiko, and Nikki, which she survived; and her loyal pups Bimbi, Smoky, and Yogi who survived by her side to her final year.

Carmelita will always be remembered as an example of beauty, inside and out. She was beautiful, generous, caring, and full of love. Her nieces, nephews, and grandkids carry her spirit with them; a million enduring flickers and flames of strength, warmth, and light. Her love lives on in the hearts of her family, and her light continues through the lives she helped shape. She was a gift to this world, a gift to everyone here and we will carry her memory into eternity.