Leilani A. Mendoza

The lovely Leilani Arboleda Mendoza, born on May 5, 1953, was a blessing to her parents Rodrigo Solano Arboleda and Salome Asuncion Arboleda. She was the second child out of nine siblings who were all raised in their hometown of Calapacuan, Subic, Zambales in the Philippines. Leilani was a top academic student from the start. She began her primary studies at Calapacuan and Matain Elementary Schools, completed her secondary education at Saint James High School (1970) and continued on to earn her Bachelors of Science in Commerce, Business Management at Columban College (1975).

It was in her hometown that she met her neighbor Nelson Mayo Mendoza, who became her high school sweetheart and they married on January 1, 1976. Leilani and Nelson started a family and together they lovingly raised their daughter Leonelei and son Nelson Jr. As a military wife and mother, Leilani supported Nelson’s career with the United States Navy. They lived all over the world including Norfolk, Virginia; Guam, USA; Honolulu, Hawaii; San Diego, California; Subic Bay, Philippines; and returned to their home in San Diego, California, when Nelson retired in 1995.

Throughout her own career, Leilani excelled at every one of her occupations. She was able to apply her college degree towards a career in accounting. One of her goals was to gain employment with the United States government, which Leilani achieved in 1992 when she passed the nationwide test for civil service. The Department of the Navy soon hired her as a telephone operator. Leilani was most recently a medical records technician at the San Diego Balboa Naval Hospital.

Leilani took pleasure in the simple things in life. Her hobbies included crocheting, knitting, gardening, shopping, watching Filipino shows, dancing, listening to music, traveling and going for walks. Most of all, Leilani loved spending time talking and laughing with her family and friends.

Leilani is survived by her husband Nelson, daughter Leonelei and son Nelson Jr. She is also survived by her sisters Lerida A. Maigue, Leonida A. Young, Divina A. Santos, Norita A. Elevado and Imelda A. Gonzales and their spouses; brothers Rodrigo A. Arboleda Jr., Nicanor A. Arboleda and Cesar A. Arboleda and their spouses; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.