Marcelina "Celing" Torno Rodriguez

Marcelina was born to Ireneo Malonzo Torno and Virginia Villavicencio on March 28,1942 in Tarlac, Philippines. She grew up in Comillas, a village in Tarlac, and attended Comillas Elementary. In her teen years she moved to Tondo where she was raised by her eldest sister and her husband, whom she lovingly called Nanay Berang and Tatay Pitong. She studied in La Paz at the Great Eastern Institute high school, however in order to help provide for her family, Marcelina left school to work at Ang Tibay where she sold shoes....and caught the eyes of many suitors, including that of a confident, persistent, boisterous young man named Rolando "Rollie" Rodriguez. It was love at first sight, but the breathtaking Marcelina didn't give him the time of day. Coincidentally, Rolando lived across the street from Ang Tibay, so he wasted no time in getting her attention by professing his love and wooing her with small acts of love; he would bribe his adorable mestiza nieces, Elaine and Eloise, with Carnation ice cream so they could deliver little messages and siopao across the street. It was only a matter of time before he won her heart. Rolando joined the Navy in 1963 and returned after several years to marry the love of his life. They had three children, Rene, Ronald and Marsha, all born in the Philippines. Rolando was then stationed in Coronado, California at the Naval Amphibious Base. In 1975, he moved his family to San Diego, California, where he and Marcelina had two more children, Rommel and Marla.

The youngest of eleven children, Marcelina was the only member amongst her siblings to leave the Philippines. In the 47 years she's lived in the United States, her heart was always in the province of Tarlac. She went "home" to the Philippines every year and took pride in her business ventures. She greatly loved, missed, and supported her siblings and relatives until the very end.

Of the many occupations in Marcelina's lifetime, she took the most pride in being a daycare provider when she lived in West Los Angeles. For 25 years, she cared for and nurtured countless children from infants to toddlers. She loved and treated them all like her own grandchildren, and they, too, called her "Lola."

Marcelina was very spiritual, kind-hearted, loyal, generous, funny, and had a gift for cooking. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She is survived by Rolando, her husband of nearly sixty years; her children Rene, Ronald and his wife Tammy, Marsha and her husband James de Vera, Rommel and his wife Mae-Ann, and Marla and her husband Patrick Sarne; five grandchildren Summer Ashlyn de Vera, Ron Sebastian Rodriguez, Roman Rodriguez, Romina Rodriguez, and Madison Ava Sarne; and her sister Josefina Torno Fernando who resides in the Philippines.

All celebrations for Marcelina will take place at Glen Abbey Memorial Park in Bonita, CA as follows:

1) Visitation - Friday, July 22, from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm at The Little Chapel of the Roses.

The Rosary and Remembrances will begin at 6 p.m.

2) A Celebration of Life - Saturday, July 23, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm at The Little Chapel of the Roses.

3) A Committal Service - Saturday, July 23, from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

4) Celebration of Life Reception will follow immediately after the committal, in the Magnolia Room, in the main building.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.glenabbeysandiego.net for the Rodriguez family.