Paz Mendita Millares

Paz Mendita Millares, aged 96, passed away peacefully on November 6, 2022 in Fresno, California. Paz was born on April 22, 1926 in Baguio City, Philippines to Francisco and Pilar Mendita. She married Jose “Joe” Bustamante Millares in June 1951 and had five children. She and Joe spent the remainder of their lives together, with Joe preceding her in death just over a year before.

She started and grew a successful hair salon in Baguio City before she met Joe. After they married and had their first child, they moved to Quezon City, a suburb of Manila, Philippines where Joe worked, to raise their family. Paz made a decision to focus full time raising their children and keeping the family together while Joe worked full time.

She taught her children values that she herself believed in: values of honesty, hard work, integrity, faith and compassion. A quiet woman, she instilled these values not so much with words but with her own actions. She was always there for her family and friends. She always had a listening ear and a generous heart. She was always first to act in times of need and the last to leave to make sure that things are in order.

She survived two breast cancer episodes in her life. She did it successfully because of her resilience and strong faith in God. When all people around her were losing hope, she withstood and recovered quickly from these difficult conditions. Paz always had a rosary with her and prayed unceasingly throughout her life. She credited her recovery to God’s good graces.

Paz and her family moved permanently to the United States in 1971 giving, leaving or selling off their possessions in the Philippines. Paz and Joe embraced the challenges and financial adversities of starting all over in a country foreign to them. It was her ability to put and keep things together that allowed her family to weather through the changes that took place in their lives.

In her later years, she suffered from dementia. Although the illness took away most of her memory, her character and love for her family never left her. She continued to remember the names and faces of her children, their spouses, her grandchildren and great grandchildren. In her quiet moments, she spoke to her husband as if he was still sitting beside her.

Paz is survived by her children and their spouses, Jose, Jr. (Elizabeth), Liz (Jack Van Loon), Jaime (Susan), Jesus (Maria), and Joel (Stacey Kim); her five grandchildren, Marie (Philip Cerdenola), Joseph, Michaela, Ryan and Jack; her three great-grandchildren, Joziah, Paz and Dia.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers and cards to please consider donating to charities that fight dementia including Alzheimer’s Association and Dementia Society of America.

Paz’s Visitation/Rosary will be from 5 PM to 7 PM on Thursday, December 1, 2022 at Whitehurst Sullivan Burns & Blair Funeral Home, 836 E. Nees Ave., Fresno, CA.

A Mass of Christian Burial will occur at 10 AM on Friday, December 2, 2022 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 355 E. Champlain Dr., Fresno, CA 93730. A committal Graveside Service will then take place immediately after the mass at St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery, 264 N Blythe Ave., Fresno, CA 93706.

Please share your fond memories of Paz and expression of sympathy at www.whitehurstsullivan.com for the Millares family.