Emelda Date Fabic

Emelda Date Fabic passed away last July 1, 2021 in peace and surrounded by her immediate family members. Emelda or Imee as she was often called, was born on May 14, 1960 at Quezon City, Philippines. She must have come out joyful that Saturday, as people who meet her would always remember her warm smile and happy aura. She grew up in the growing town of Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines.

Imee attended St. Louis School in Solano. Quite a number of her former classmates would remember her as always having a warm smile and an easy and soft laughter for everyone. She was an academic honors student. Her diligent study habits and aptitude earned for her a slot in the University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB). She entered the College of Forestry and finished her Bachelor of Science in Forestry. It was also here that she would meet her future husband Francisco Fabic (Frankie/Kiko). Frankie and Imee would marry on May 30, 1981. They would eventually raise up seven children, 5 boys and 2 girls, in Manila, Philippines. In 1999, the whole family moved to Tampa, Florida, USA. Since then the family would call Tampa as home. Imee was full of life, compassion, devotion and love for her family. She was a loving mother and very dear friend.

Imee was a caregiver, a Sunday school teacher, a cook, a lover of music and arts, a Eucharist minister. Whatever she did, she did with passion, dignity and a warm smile. For that she was remembered and treated with respect.

She was a devoted daily attendee of the Holy Eucharist. She loved the Holy Eucharist for what it means. Her respect for the mass was such that Imee would not step into the church if we were but 5 minutes late. Towards the end of her life, when she was too weak to go to church physically, she would listen to livestream mass. She would hear the mass from the Philippines: Churches of Quiapo, Baclaran, Manaoag, Sta. Maria Goretti, Manila Cathedral; St. Lawrence, St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York; the Basilica of Immaculate Conception in D.C., the Vatican. She would listen to 3 to 5 live masses in a day. She would offer one mass for the children and at least one for herself. By her bedside she would listen to Father Peyton’s rosary and Divine Mercy chaplet on YouTube. Till the end of her life she remained faithful and grateful to God for the gift of life.

We are deeply saddened by her passing. Yet by her Faith and together with our Faith we feel a certain joy, peace and comfort that she continues her eternal journey towards our heavenly Father, the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph and their angels. As she journeys forward she leaves behind her very best friend Frankie, her lovely children, Albert and Ann, Stephen, Emil, Emmanuel and Dawn, Grace and Jim, Marianne and Ryan; adorable grandchildren, Elise, Andre, Adrian; loving parents, brothers and sisters and relatives in the Philippines. She is preceded in her journey by sons Nicholas, Greggy and Anselmo.

Celebration of Life and viewing

July 13 (Tuesday) 6-9 pm

Dignity Memorial Garden of Memories

4207 E Lake St. Tampa 33610

Funeral Mass

July 14 (Wednesday) 10 am

St Lawrence Catholic Church

5225 N Himes Ave. Tampa 33614

Internment to follow immediately at Dignity Memorial Garden of Memories.

Fellowship at St Lawrence Higgins Hall afterwards.

Here are the links for the YouTube.livestreams for the two events:

1. Memorial Service at Garden of Memories: https://youtu.be/hKjmtg4N2fg

2. Mass at St. Lawrence: https://youtu.be/l2zcWm5VzcE