She was born on March 13, 1942 to Diosdado and Maura Naranja Sanchez in San Miguel, Iloilo, Philippines. The oldest of 7 children, she grew up in San Miguel. She attended San Miguel Elementary School and finished high school at the University of the Philippines, Iloilo. She got her Bachelors in Science at the University of the Philippines, Manila.
She met the love of her life, Rodolfo Tabares, as a teenager. He saw her while playing basketball in the Plaza. He saw Vilma and fell for her beauty! They danced to “Fascination” by Nat King Cole. They married on June 25 1966 at Church of the Immaculate Conception in Manila. They were blessed with three children, Maria Delia, Rodolfo Jr. and Ryan Patrick.
In 1968, Rodolfo left his young family with Vilma’s family in San Miguel while he went to Guam to work. They were reunited in 1971 when Vilma and their children were finally able to join him. Vilma got a job as a medical technologist, where she eventually became a department administrator of the laboratory. She retired in 1996 but continued to work part time until 2009.
After many years of flying back and forth between Guam and California, Rodolfo and Vilma moved to California permanently to be with their children and grandchildren in 2013.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and her loving husband of 48 years.
She leaves behind her daughter, Maria Delia Gempis (Valentino), sons, Rodolfo Juan Sanchez Tabares, Jr. (Rachel) and Ryan Patrick Sanchez Tabares (Michelle), granddaughters, Valerie Lopez (Daniel), Vanessa & Veronica Gempis, grandson Ryan Anthony Tabares, and great-grandchildren Anthony, Emma, and Matthew Lopez.
She is also survived by her sisters, Marina (Ross †) Gorriceta, Fe Sanchez, and Dr. Elvira (Freddie) Salarda, her brothers Diosdado (Althea) Sanchez, Teddy Sanchez, and Father Alberto Sanchez along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins all over the US, Guam, and the Philippines.
