Carolina Esteban Fuentes

On June 20, 2025, Carolina Esteban Fuentes, at the age of 102, joined her husband, Maximo Fuentes, in heaven. They were married for 40 years when her husband passed away in 1985 and 40 years later, they are reunited.

She passed away peacefully in Torrance, California, surrounded by the love of her family. A woman of quiet strength, boundless tenacity, and unwavering devotion, Carolina’s life was a testament to integrity, hard work, and deep love for both family and the natural world.

Born on May 27, 1923, in Cavite City, Philippines, Carolina was the beloved daughter of Eustracio Esteban and Mercedes Tomas. Her father was the Chief of Operations of the sugar mill on the island province of Negros Occidental. A renowned local actor, tenor, and accomplished musician, he was on a business trip when he passed away in his sleep, leaving his wife a widow at age 24. Carolina’s uncles and aunt were her source of comfort during this devastating time but, in spite of this tragedy, she became the one that took care of everyone and everything including her grandfather (a feisty Spaniard) and the neighborhood children who needed care. Her mother was raised by nuns in a Cavite monastery where she honed her skills in oration and logical thinking--traits she passed down to Carolina.

Family members claimed that Carolina looked like a mini-version of her mother that they nicknamed her “Dit” (hence, Mama Dit), i.e. short for Mercedita (little Mercedes.) She had five older siblings who all died very young (Adelina, Carmen, Obdulia, Gerardo and Eugenio). After her mother married Felipe Advincula, she was blessed with a brother, Alfonso (Ponchie/Ching) and a sister, Teresita (Terry)

She grew up in the part of Cavite City where there was a heavy Spanish influence. They spoke Chavacano which is a blend of Castilian Spanish and the local language—Tagalog.

Carolina and her mother ended up being the go-to persons in their community for anything from extra rice or food, bandaging cuts & bruises to caregiving of the sickly. Her mother cared for, not only for the six children of her siblings, but also the orphaned children of their neighbors. This burden was shared by Carolina because she was the eldest child. Carolina's nursing and motherly skills were cultivated and honed by necessity at a very young age.

On December 10, 1941, three days after the attack on Pearl Harbor which catapulted World War II, the Japanese bombed the Cavite Navy Yard. Carolina, at 18 years old, took the responsibility head on with her mother to evacuate their younger relatives out of town.

(Note: Cavite was a primary target and hence heavily bombarded not only because of the US Naval Shipyard but also for the three "wireless" towers/telegraph stations and the Sangley Point US military airbase.)

Carolina was heavily burdened with carrying a cousin (Soledad Tomas) who was unable to walk, while pushing a "kariton" (wooden cart with wooden wheels) filled with their belongings and other young relatives. They fled from Cavite City to Imus, traveling approximately 16 kilometers (nearly 10 miles) on foot. She cared for her mother, brother, sister, and multiple cousins, as they evacuated their hometown. At one Japanese checkpoint, her mother had to hide her under a "batya" (large flat basin for washing clothes) because they were looking for young ladies of age. Her mother successfully convinced the sentries they had none.

During WWII, their adopted house was a way station for the guerilla underground movement, to which her uncle, Ramon Tomas, was a member. Messages were stored in between the "nipa" walls and then subsequently passed onto "runners" who delivered said messages. Carolina was helping with the message delivery system and actually became the ‘typist’ for the underground movement. She knew all the guerilla names, however, her name and her mother's were not included in the list for fear of being found out and consequently tortured by the Japanese army (e.g., two of her uncles were randomly taken, hung by their thumbs and beaten.) As such, when liberation came, Carolina and her mother were not compensated or recognized for their contribution to the war efforts; just the ones on the list. (Additionally, if not for her efforts in the daily physical therapy of the cousin she carried during the evacuation, Soledad Tomas would not be walking today.)

Carolina and her family were lucky to have survived WWII and by some stroke of fate, she ran into her future husband (a Navy medic) in the dispensary. He was called upon to treat her allergies. This sailor was smitten by her allure and inner beauty that he patiently pursued her.

On July 8, 1945, about two months before the official end of the war, Carolina married Maximo Dizon Fuentes, a US Navy Chief Pharmacist Mate who was a single father/widower with 7 children: Genoveva (Bessie), Sigfreda (Dids), Friolina (Lily), Florcerfina (Flor), Maximo Jr. (Max), Enrique (Henry) and Geraldine (Dinna).

(Note: Maximo was actually assigned to USS Genesee, homeported at the Cavite Naval Shipyard, at the time of the Japanese attack. He was also a POW/MIA and survivor of both the Battle of Corregidor and Bataan Death March.)

Carolina and Maximo’s marriage produced six children: Joslyn (Jo), Aleta (✞), Louella (Louie), Reuel (Bong), Adeste (Dey) and Evangelo (Evan). (Regrettably, Aleta did not survive a fatal accident when she was about 3 years old.) Carolina raised her children as well as her husband's seven children as one family on a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer pension. She also took in her husband's relatives for lodging and to help them finish their schooling. Although she wanted to be a nurse or a teacher ever since she was young, she pivoted and dedicated her entire life to the art of homemaking.

In the 1960's and 70's, Carolina helped her husband, a founding father and long-standing officer of the local U.S. Fleet Reserve and Ladies Auxiliary Associations, with the logistics of their official meetings. She also served as the Secretary/Treasurer of the U.S. Fleet Reserve Association.

Her husband suffered a debilitating stroke in 1977and she took care of him for 8 years, including physical therapy to the point where he could walk again with assistance and travel to the US to see their son, Adeste, get married in 1983. Two years later he passed away. Their 40-year marriage was a partnership built on deep affection, shared values, and unwavering support for one another.

In 1987, Carolina moved to Maryland to live with Adeste, who was in the US Coast Guard. He already had a toddler with a second baby on the way. Carolina loved raising her grandkids. A year later, she got to travel cross-country to California due to her son’s new military assignment. It was quite a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that she experienced especially when shared with her two granddaughters. Two more grandsons were born to her new family when they permanently settled in California.

Carolina really enjoyed her plants, particularly orchids. She loved growing plants from seeds and cuttings surreptitiously gathered from her travels. She had dozens and dozens of potted plants thriving at the same time which is very hard to do. She also enjoyed clipping articles from newspapers, especially the section on “This Day In History.” When it comes to cooking, her adobo, paksiw, lumpia, pansit, torta, and embutido are stand-out favorites.

She loved traveling with her children to visit family on the East Coast and the Philippines, vacationing in Hawaii and visiting, particularly, the historic lands like Rome, the Vatican, etc.

Carolina was a strong woman--physically, mentally, and spiritually. When asked how old she was, she would say, “I’m ageless.” During her 100th birthday celebration at a local venue, the staff was astounded when they saw her walk from the car into the ballroom.

Carolina’s departure from this earth was unexpected. She was still able to walk, eat, dress herself, etc. with no ailment. The lab results and doctor's visits were somewhat uneventful. She survived COVID twice!

At exactly 12:30AM, half hour after midnight on June 20, 2025, Carolina picked this longest day of the year to peacefully transcend onto her heavenly adventure with her husband holding her hands (her hands were noted to be unusually warm.)

She is survived by her sister (Terry), her “eight” children (Max, Henry, Dinna, Jo, Louie, Bong, Dey and Evan), 13 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren. She served to be a strong inspiration and blessing to her family and others who knew her.

A celebration of her life will be held at the following locations:

Lighthouse Memorials & Receptions

1016 W. 164Th St., Gardena, CA, 90247

July 18 - Viewing/Vigil: 4PM-8PM (Rosary at 6PM)

July 19 - Celebration of Life & Reception: 10AM-4PM (Liturgy at 10:30AM)

Philippines: Villa Paz Resort; 483 T.Gomez, Caridad, Cavite City

July 23-25 - Viewing 10AM-10PM

July 26 - Funeral Mass, 12:30PM St. Peter Church followed by Interment at St. Peter Cemetery