Eduviges Behing Monteron Dangca

EDUVIGES MONTERON DANGCA

10/17/1920 - 05/14/2011

Born in Dolores, Quezon, Philippines, joined husband Leon 05/14/2011. She is survived by her sister Decideria, 11 children, 21 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

Services are as follows:

05/20/2011: Viewing 12:00P.M. to 5:30P.M.

Mass at 6:30 P.M. St. Elizabeth Church, 750 Sequioa Dr. Milpitas, Ca 94035.

05/21/2001: Viewing 9:00A.M. to 1:00P.M. Funeral service at 1:00PM, followed by burial at Lima Family Cemetery, 48800 Warm Springs Blvd. Fremont CA. 94539. Reception will follow TBA.

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BIOGRAPHY: EDUVIGES MONTERON DANGCA

Born on October 17, 1920, Eduviges Dapog Monteron was the first child of Anacleto Monteron and Raymunda Dapog. She had two older siblings, Paulino from her paternal side and a sister, Carmen from her maternal side. She was followed by her sister Zosima, brother Gerardo, and Decideria, the youngest, who survives her.

She grew up in the small town of Dolores in the province of what was then Tayabas, re-named Quezon in honor of the first president of the Commonwealth. It was an agricultural municipality so early in her life she was shown how to plant crops and raise animals in order to survive for a living.

One of her father’s occupations was serving as an acolyte for the lone Catholic Church in town. From an early age, she knew about her Catholic faith and she carried it throughout her life and taught it to all her children.

She attended school in the same municipality under strict but best educators in town. She learned the basics but was not given the chance to pursue higher education due to extreme poverty. She did well academically but excelled in sports, especially in softball. After she finished her elementary education, she started to help her parents in supporting their growing family.

In 1936, the economy got tougher and farming was not producing enough to support the family. With the encouragement of her friends, she decided to forgo farming and tried her luck in industry. She moved to the nearby town of Candelaria and was employed by Peter Paul Candy Factory. This American company not only gave hope to her but also opened the door for a new chapter in her life---it was there that she met her future husband, Leon, a co-worker, who hailed from San Pablo City, Laguna. After a brief courtship, they got married in May 20, 1940 amidst uncertainties brought forth by the invasion of the Japanese soldiers during the Second World War. Leon joined President Quezon’s own guerilla, while she stayed home to take care of their child, Floro, who was born in December of the same year. War did not get in the way of their relationship because in August of 1942, Imelda, their second child, was born. Little did they know that throughout their lives together, this small family of four would eventually become a large family of twelve. She gave birth to Florendo in 1945, then Manolo in 1947, who died in 1949, soon after Danilo was born in December of 1948. The “baby boom generation” was on and the couple joined the frenzy, when Nonylon was born in 1950, Clarita in 1953, Alberto in 1955, Alvin in 1957, Venia in 1959, Alline in 1962 and finally Ramil in 1965.

With the family growing, she decided to be a full time homemaker to care for the children while Leon continued to work in Candelaria.

As the children reached school age, they met some challenges on how to send them to school. For Leon, it would be enough for them to know how to read and write so they can join the workforce; however, Eduviges wanted the best for her children and did not want them to experience what she has been through without complete education. She did what she can to support her children’s education by helping in her sister’s store, doing laundry for others and many more. Because of her hard work and determination along with the support of her older children, nine out of her eleven children received their college diplomas.

She came to the United States in February 1978, through the petition of one of her sons who joined the US Naval service. She took this golden opportunity to acquire US citizenship, and petitioned the remaining family members. Leon joined her in 1984 but passed away ten years later. Leon was buried in Dolores while the rest of the family live in the United States.

The family grew larger as all the children got married and started to raise their own families. As of May of this year, there are 21 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

She enjoyed her own version of retirement by taking care of the grandchildren and occasionally taking a trip out of town. She planned to take more but her chronic sickness prevented her from doing so. She suffered from diabetes and spent the last dozen years undergoing dialysis treatment.

Along with taking care of her grandchildren, she found entertainment in playing, in a very competitive manner, BINGO. She sometimes forced others to come and play with her. At times she was caught playing alone, just to be entertained.

Eduviges is survived by her youngest sister Decideria, her 11 children, 21 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, nephews and nieces.

Eduviges preferred to be buried here in the U.S., so she can be with the family and continue to run it from up above.