Carlos Ilagan Depano, Jr. (or known as ka. Caloy by his fellow Iglesia ni Cristo members) was born on January 9, 1942 in Manila, Philippines to parents Carmen Ilagan and Carlos Depano, Sr. He was the second eldest of 11 siblings. He had 7 brothers and 3 sisters.
Carlos studied at the University of Manila where he graduated with a degree in commerce/ economics. It was during his time at Manila University where he met fellow classmate Nenita Talavera, whom he would later wed on July 20, 1965.
The same year, Carlos would join the US Navy and moved to the United States where he was stationed at Cecil Field Naval Base in Jacksonville, Florida. Hence the name of his eldest child, Florida aka Janet. While serving in the military, Carlos and Nenita welcomed 2 more children, Rannie and Henry. Nenita and their 3 children would remain in the Philippines while he was in the US.
After serving his time in the military, he returned to his family in the Philippines. He then pursued his career in several businesses one of which was an oil refinery business. Carlos and Nenita would then welcome 3 more children, Jen, Michael and Ronald.
In 1978 Carlos would return to the United States along with his wife and children in pursuit of the “American Dream” in hopes of providing a better future for his family. This time, Seattle is where he would call his home. He was an electrician for Todd Shipyard as well as Lockheed Shipyard.
Carlos would later relocate his family to New York where he continued working as an electrician at Manhattan Crown Plaza Hotel before going back into his business roots. He would eventually return to Jacksonville, Florida where he started Lola’s Food Products, a manufacturing company making Filipino food specializing in tocino and longanisa.
While in Florida, Carlos would experience the first of his many health scares, later leading to various health issues. Carlos endured prostate cancer, multiple strokes, heart bypass surgery, kidney failure, other heart problems and additional health issues. Due to his deteriorating health, Carlos would move back to Seattle, Washington to live with his children who had all settled there.
During his later years in life Carlos experienced many health problems and scares, some of which his family thought he would not be able to survive. But by the grace of God, he always made it through. He was in and out of the hospital and always trying to find some way to help renew or cure his aging and ailing body. Though Carlos had to endure all of these, it will not be what he is remembered for.
Carlos will be remembered for being a Proud Member of the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ). Reluctant at first to join the Church, he compared and studied different religions including the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Seventh Day Adventist and other Protestant Churches. The first to join the Iglesia ni Cristo was his daughter Janet followed by his wife and children. Carlos would be the last to join and was baptized on February 11, 1984 by brother Joel Del Rosario.
In the Church he became a deacon, the first LOS President in Seattle, a CWS teacher and even a volunteer worker. Though the last to join, his faith was strong and he used every opportunity to share his faith and religion he loved so much. It didn’t matter that he was sick and in the hospital, if he could still talk, he would invite you to go to church for bible study. Even the nurses who took care of him during this last time he was admitted in the hospital, he would invite.
Carlos’s body was aging, ailing and weakening, but his faith was strong as ever and never weakened. He was a Proud Member of the Iglesia ni Cristo till the end.
2 Timothy 4:7 NIV
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Revelation 21:4 ESV
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.8.18