Elizar Abella Mendoza

Elizar was born on the island of Mindanao in Philippines and grew up in the province of Matab-Ang in Cebu. He worked for Atlas Mining Corporation for several years as an HVAC engineer before immigrating to the United States in 1979, leaving his wife, Antonia, and his five children behind until he could get himself settled. He started off in California where three of his siblings and their families lived.

Since jobs were scarce in California, he moved to Washington State where his Tia/Aunt Reme Bacho lived. With her help, Elizar was able to get a job. He was not picky with what type of job; he was happy to just have one. He worked from picking garbage off the highway, to assembling truck parts.

While riding the bus, he met a man who was looking for an assistant to help maintain the Bush Hotel in Chinatown. The man offered him the job, which he accepted. The job gave him room & board at the hotel. While working at the hotel, he also worked part-time for Metro, which eventually turned to a full-time position. Working more than one job at a time kept him busy, which helped ease the heartache he felt from missing his family. The family eventually joined him in May of 1981.

With the money he was able to save up from working multiple jobs while he was apart from his family, he was able to put a down payment for the house on 23rd soon after the family’s arrival. Once Antonia got a job, he quit working at the Bush Hotel. He kept working for Metro as a janitor until his retirement in 2010. The family lived at the 23rd house until he and Antonia bought another home on Columbian Way in 1993, where Antonia still resides and the children and grandchildren visit frequently.

Elizar was known to be a handyman. He could fix and build almost anything. Because of this, friends & family would call him to fix things from a sink, to building a deck. Even strangers asked for his help; he helped Buddhist monks just off of MLK Way build a fence for their temple. He was very proud of the $50 that the monks gave him.

On top of his handyman skills, he was also known for his green thumb. He could bring dying plants that he bought from Lowe’s clearance section back to life. Between him and Antonia, they were able to grow and raise roses, orchids and other flowering plants. Elizar leaves a legacy of fruit bearing plants and trees (grapes, apples, kiwi and his beloved persimmons) flourishing at the Columbian Way house as well as the homes of his children.

Elizar will be remembered as a hardworking man with a strong work ethic. As someone who did not mind buying second hand or shopping at the flea market. As someone who gathered aluminum cans to recycle for extra cash. And most of all, he will be remembered as someone who was ready to help. One of his cousins once told him, “You can’t go before me, otherwise, I will not have anyone to borrow money from.”

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, his five kids and 13 grandchildren, as well as his remaining siblings, Clothilde Holland and Lydia Labrado, his numerous nieces and nephews, and cousins.

A rosary service for Elizar will be held Friday, September 10, 2021 from 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM at Immaculate Conception, 820 18th Ave, Seattle, WA 98112. A funeral service will occur Saturday, September 11, 2021 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Immaculate Conception.