Cirila P. Lopez

Cirila P. Lopez, 94, a two year resident of the Las Vegas area, passed away on March 17, 2018 at Nathan Adelson Hospice after a battle against a major stroke. She was born February 2, 1924 in Oaqui #2, Luna, La Union, Philippines to Marcos and Maxima Pantel. She was the only child. She found her soul mate and partner for life at age 22, when she married Candido N. Lopez of the same barrio district in the Philippines. In the late 1920's because of the hardship of life in the Philippines with the permission of her mom, her father and other individuals including her uncle, went and joined the recruitment of people to work for a sugar plantation in Hawaii to seek a better life. She was four when her father left. She and her mother survived WWII in the Philippines. After she married she and Candido took over the farm property job responsibility planting rice and tobacco. They sold tobacco and the extra harvested rice to support their family. In 1965 with enough affidavit support and US citizenship, her dad petitioned her and all of the members of the family to come to the United States. In 1966, she had her husband migrated to the USA and reunited with her father for the first time in 38 years. Her mother, Maxima and Cirila's children Leo, Ofelia and Ben migrated the following year. Her family settled in Delano, California. Her and her husband worked for grape growers contractors in San Joaquin Valley, California maintaining and harvesting grapes until they retired at 65. After retirement, she and her husband went back to the Philippines and retired there. In October 2012 her husband passed away in the Philippines. In July 2016 she came back to the USA and resided in Las Vegas near her youngest son, Ben. Cirila loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren dearly. She was kind, loving, caring, generous and a very hospitable woman. She loved good food and socializing. She liked playing Solitaire. She loved flowers and planting flower gardens. She loved dogs. She had a wonderful smile that could light up the room.