Carmelita Gaza Lapus, M.D., née Pali Gaza of Missouri City, Texas, boarded her flight to Heaven on Tuesday morning, March 23, 2021 at the age of 76. She was born on April 12, 1944, in Malabon, Rizal, Philippines to Teodorica Pali and Victor Gaza.
Carmelita or “Baby” to family and friends was a product of St. James Academy, a Catholic school in Malabon that was run by the Maryknoll sisters. Later, she obtained her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Santo Tomas in 1967. To further her study in the field of Anesthesiology, she was accepted as an intern in 1970 by Mercy Catholic Hospital in Philadelphia. In 1971 she was accepted by Massachusetts General Hospital for their residency program in Anesthesiology. At the suggestion of her future husband, she applied for and accepted a position in Houston at The Baylor College of Medicine program in Anesthesiology where she had the privilege of working with two of the most renowned heart surgeons at that time, Dr. Michael DeBakey and Dr. Denton Cooley. Upon passing her Texas State Board Medical exams and Anesthesiology Board exams in 1974 and 1975, respectively, she was appointed Assistant Professor of Anesthesia by Baylor College of Medicine. While at Baylor, she was informally voted by her colleagues as their “Bunny of the Year” for working even while pregnant with her future children throughout the 1970's.
In 1978, missing the Catholic atmospheres of the University of Santo Tomas Hospital and Mercy Catholic Hospital, Carmelita decided to work at St. Joseph’s, a Catholic hospital in downtown Houston, then run by the Sisters of the Incarnate Word. She worked there until 1988, from there she worked at various hospitals up until a little over a month before her passing.
Carmelita is preceded in death by her son Carl Philipp Gerard Lapus (Dec. 4, 1975 - Jan. 5, 1976), her parents Teodorica and Victor Gaza, and her siblings, Zenaida Buensuceso, Dr. Justina G. Bernardo, Gloria P. Gaza, Felipe P. Gaza and Victor P. Gaza, and one overprotective family dog, a Lhasa Apso who sometimes responded to his name, Rocky, and always responded to a Milk-Bone.
Carmelita is survived by her loving and patient husband of nearly 50 years Carlos Lapus, who ensured his wife lived surrounded by orchids, tulips, and roses, her children Theodore (an attorney), Robert (a physician), and Angela (also a physician), her daughter-in-law Janette, a nurse and wife to Robert, and their two children, Lucy and Josh, who miss their grandma very much.
Carmelita is also survived by her nieces and nephews:
The children of her sister, Zenaida G. Buensuceso and Jose L. Buensuceso: Vicky Cleveland (who graciously helped keep an eye on Carmelita’s children during their early years), Maria Asuncion Buensuceso, Jean Marie B. Daly, and Dr. Lizza B. Gob.
The children of her sister, Justina G. Bernardo and Alipio Bernardo: Patricia B. Pascual, Lynette B. Adelino, Abigail B. Mangulabnan.
The child of her brother, Felipe P. Gaza and Ramona R. Gaza: Victor R. Gaza.
The children of her brother Victor P. Gaza Jr. and Purita A. Gaza: Kristin Pia Robles, Victor A. Gaza III, Nina G. Robles, and Ronald A. Gaza.
A wake where Carmelita’s life will be remembered will be held on Monday, March 29, 2021 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm at Earthman Southwest Funeral Home on 12555 S Kirkwood Rd, Stafford, Texas 77477.
A funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 2:00pm at Holy Rosary Church on 3617 Milam St, Houston, Texas 77002.
Following the funeral mass, Carmelita will be laid to rest at Earthman Resthaven Funeral Home and Cemetery on 13102 North Freeway, Houston, Texas 77060. When Carmelita is laid to rest, Carl Phillip will be moved from his resting site, and will be reunited with his mother.
In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to:
Holy Rosary Church, 3617 Milam St, Houston, Texas 77002, where Carmelita and Carlos were married in 1971.
https://www.osvonlinegiving.com/248/DirectDonate/5051
Or Bennett’s Bears - a charity for children with cancer
https://www.bennettsbears.org/donate/
Also, consider celebrating her life by ordering her favorite dish. #66 Salted Toasted Pork Spareribs at Shanghai Restaurant. 9116 Bellaire Blvd. Houston, Texas 77036. Open 12p-8p. Closed Wednesday
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