Myrla Nieves Agbayani

On May 29, 2023, Myrla Nieves Agbayani, beloved wife and mother, passed away at the age of 81. Myrla was born on October 4, 1941 in Busay, Daraga in the province of Albay in the Bicol region of the Philippines to Francesca Galicia Nieves and Rodolfo Reamon Nieves.

At the age of 6, Myrla began working at the family store, mending clothes and traveling to different cities to sell clothing and food prepared by her mother. This is where she learned the incredible work ethic she passed on to her children.

When she completed elementary school, her father began working for President Marcos at the Malacañang Palace, and the family moved to Manila, where she spent the rest of a happy childhood.

She met the love of her life and husband of 54 years, Romeo “Romy” Calixto Agbayani while attending the University of Santo Tomas where she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1965.

For many years, Myrla worked as a private nurse at San Juan de Dios hospital in Manila. She then went on to work with Operation Brotherhood, a division of US Aid before coming to the United States where she and Romy raised their two daughters, Mechele and Mariel.

She loved traveling, volunteering for the church, slot machines, and gardening. Cooking was Myrla’s love language, and many parties were hosted at the Agbayani’s Houston-area home.

Myrla worked for Cook County Hospital in Chicago, IL, and at Hermann Hospital, Medical Arts, and Methodist Hospitals in Houston. She retired from M.D. Anderson Hospital in 2006.

Myrla was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Romy; her parents, Francesca and Rodolfo Nieves and her younger brother, Gulliermo Nieves. She is survived her daughter Mechele Agbayani Mills; daughter Mariel Agbayani Bathan; their husbands who were like sons, Jeff Mills and Richard Bathan; sister Josephina “Pina” Bjorge; nieces, Megan Gavigan, Camille Camba, Zara Kayanama, Sharon Nieves, Lala Ganuelas, Lei Edith Agbayani- de Jesús, Lei Lani Agbayani, Ma.Graciela Benigno-Ganuelas, Lorie Anne Acacio, Lorie Vic Acacio; and nephews Patrick Gavigan, Nicholas Gavigan, Oscar Agbayani, Jun Jun Nieves, Romy Nieves, Alex Nieves, Jr., Clifford Eric Benigno, and Neil Eric Benigno.

Visitation will be at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home on Wednesday, June 7 from 5:00 - 8:00 PM, with a Rosary from 7:30-8:00 PM. A service will be held at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home on Thursday, June 8 at 10:00 AM followed by burial and reception.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.forestparkwestheimer.com for the Agbayani family.