Gilda De La Vega Rualo

Gilda Tuliao Dela Vega, the eldest of four, was born on June 17th, 1944 in Balungao Pangasinan, Philippines to Virgilio Rodriguez Dela Vega & Rosalia Tuliao Dela Vega. Soft spoken & introverted, Gilda at a young age dreamed her life goal was to become a Nurse. Inspired by her peer relatives, she pursued her studies fulfilling her goals in 1966 by graduating from Dagupan College with a degree in Nursing. Her degree lead her abroad to Regina, Saskatchewan Canada, where as an immigrant, she began her career as a Registered Nurse.

In 1969, Gilda again immigrated to the United States settling in Los Angeles, California where she worked for Van Nuys Community Hospital. During the holiday season later that year, she would be introduced to Felipe G. Rualo, a U.S. Naval Sailor stationed in Point Loma submarine base in San Diego California. On March 27th, 1971 Gilda & Felipe were married in Van Nuys, California & spent their honeymoon exploring the Sierra Nevada. Gilda & Felipe Rualo’s union eventually led them to permanently reside in San Diego, California known as “America’s Finest City”. It was here that Gilda began her 34-year-professional career as a Nurse for Kaiser Hospital and 41 years of family life as wife, mother, and eventual grandmother.

Gilda was blessed with her first child on February 25, 1975. She named her first born son Jason Michael Rualo. Four years later, she was blessed yet again with a second child & named him James Rodney Rualo. During the early years of her children’s lives, Gilda was surrounded by her best friend Paz Garcia, sister Ann, & parents Virgilio & Rosalia whom were, in addition to her husband Felipe, all key figures in raising her 2 boys. She spent her free time caring for her children, cooking, baking, gardening and playing bingo in the local Indian casinos. Twice yearly, her family would vacation in the family friendly Circus Circus resort & casino in Las Vegas.

In 2005, at the age of 60, Gilda’s life was forever changed when she survived a mild stroke. She eventually retired from Kaiser Hospital after 34 years of faithful service and began her new life as a retired senior citizen. Although the effects of the stroke affected her energy levels, Gilda always had a special energy reserve for her favorite casinos. When not growing orchids or tending to the many fruit trees thriving on her backyard orchard, she frequented local Indian casinos, playing slots at Viejas, Barona, Sycuan, and Valley View. As player club member of multiple venues, she enjoyed her awarded benefits such as grandiose lobster meals and live musical entertainment from some of her favorite singers.

On April 2013, at the age of 68, Gilda became a grandmother for the first time from the arrival of her first born grandson Dominic Lorenzo Rualo. Gilda always made time for her grandson despite her dwindling energy levels. With her career experience working with post-partum patients, being a grandmother came naturally to her. With her sweet smile, friendly face, and beautiful singing voice she had a way with soothing her grandson. She baby sat daily & was consistently shared knowledge on child rearing techniques of her time. When Dominic began walking, Gilda had him assist her while tending to her garden.

A routine checkup for stomach pains on June 30, 2015 would begin the final chapter in the life Gilda as the results of the tests show that she was living with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. For the next month, relatives flocked in for visits from near & far to pray for her wellbeing. During this time period, she surrounded herself with those closest to her, reuniting old friendships, and amending estrangement. Gilda was well cared for by her husband, children, and immediate family members, 8 of which had nursing-related experience. On July 30, 2015, surrounded by friends & family at her home of 41 years, Gilda departed us at 7:27 pm, PST. She was 71 years old.

Throughout her life, Gilda Dela Vega Rualo was referred to by many titles: Grand Daughter, Daughter, Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Tita, Auntie, Friend, Co Worker, Nurse, & Platinum Club Player. She was loved & admired by many for her sweet, but soft-spoken nature, her generosity, and but most importantly hospitality. Family was always first in her priorities, never putting her career above. With her beautiful smile, prominent dimples, contagious laugh, friendly demeanor, sweet tooth, appetite for shell fish, and love for casino adventure, she will be sadly missed. Gilda is survived by her husband Felipe, sons Jason & James, grandson Dominic, sister Ann, and brother Wildfredo. She was laid to rest on August 13, 2015 at Glenn Abbey Memorial Park in Bonita, California.