Myrna Ruth T. Cabradilla

Myrna Ruth was the 2nd of five beautiful sisters, Molly, Cynthia, Joyce and Marvey.

Myrna Ruth’s husband is Eduardo M Cabradilla and they have one child, Michael T Cabradilla.

Michael’s beautiful wife is Jenny and they have two children, Myrna Ruth’s only granddaughters, Zela and Mazey.

REFLECTION of Myrna Ruth’s Life, by Michael Cabradilla

My name is Michael Cabradilla. I am Myrna Ruth’s only child. I like to say “my mom got it right the first time!” That’s why there is only me. =)

I can truly say that I was her favorite son. =)

In this time of reflection, I’ve had a good amount of time to think about mom. The following is not structured; it’s a rambling perspective, from her son’s vantage point.

My mom was extraordinary. She was above the norm and never settled for less. She was a visionary and a dreamer. She was a doer. She took action. She didn’t sit on the sidelines; she got in the game and played.

She was loving, caring and thoughtful.

The way that children spell LOVE is not L.O.V.E. but it’s T.I.M.E.

Time is the one thing that we can never get more of. Of course we all wish that we had more time with people that we care about, especially when they are no longer here. My mom would encourage all of us to spend more time with the people we care about. Be intentional about getting together. Be intentional about sharing stories and telling each other that you love each other.

I am very proud of the TIME that we were able to spend with mom.

Both my mom and I have not had traditional jobs in over 10 years. We have been working our LegalShield businesses from home for the last 10+ years.

Being able to work together and work from home allowed us to spend a lot more time with each other than we probably would have otherwise. It was amazing to work together to build our business.

My mom was the best business partner that I could ever imagine or hope for. She was supportive, encouraging and willing to put in work. We pushed each other to do more and in turn celebrated together, various milestones within our business.

She was there for everything. Our fondest memories were our business travels, which were always business and pleasure.

I remember going to Hawaii with Jenny, Dad and Mom for the first time. She was so excited and appreciative. We spent time in the sun. Spent time on the beaches. We explored the island of Hawaii as much as we could. We ate, we laughed and we enjoyed.

My mom was really afraid of the water, both in pools and in the ocean. She had a scare when she was younger, where she almost drowned, so she always acted weird around water.

In swimming pools, she would hold on to the edge of the pool, clinging on for dear life!

When we were in Hawaii, as a family, we were spending time with each other at Kailua Beach. My dad and I took a kayak out, just a little bit out in the water. I asked my mom to try it out. She got into the kayak first and she just kept screaming at the top of her lungs, every time the waves came in and pushed the kayak! We never got off the beach. She was too scared! It was SO FUNNY.

She loved our LegalShield Family. Thank you for loving my mom back. She was able to be herself and her spirit was able to shine in the welcoming and encouraging environment. She loved everyone and cared for everyone.

Random: When I was growing up, for Christmas, she would address my Christmas gifts, “From: Santa Claus” She even create a specific type of font to make the boxes look like they came from the North Pole! (Postage and everything)

My mom had a sense of adventure. She loved to travel. When I was in college, I won a trip to Norway on the Price is Right game show. There was no other choice to take, but my mom. We had such a great time together. I remember sailing through the Fjords, enjoying the pristine water and fresh air. We spent time in Bergen, eating the best seafood we had ever tasted.

Mom had a knack for making friends, EVERYWHERE she went. She wasn’t afraid to talk and laugh with people. She could relate to people instantly. Her smile was infectious and her energy inviting.

At a museum in Oslo, Norway, we met a Filipino family and because of her charm, they invited us to spend time with them at their home and they became our personal guides.

We traveled on cruises to Mexico. My mom loved being with people. She loved being around visionaries. She loved being around business minded and entrepreneurial souls. Throughout my life, she was always my number one cheerleader.

We also traveled to the Philippines, Hong Kong, all over the United States and more.

Mom used to collect spoons from all of the states that she visited.

She picked up knitting in the past year and became very proficient in making hats for her loved ones.

She was an amazing cook, especially for larger parties. My dad says when they first got married, she didn’t really know how to cook, but she learned and experimented through the years and created her own style.

She loved collecting recipes and recipe books. She was always willing to cook something new.

If you have ever been to one of our family parties, it was usually my mom and dad that prepared most of the food. For my college graduation, they didn’t hold back. They spent hours and probably didn’t sleep much, preparing a feast fit for kings. There was Lobster, blue crabs, Pancit Palabok, hand rolled lumpia, adobo, barbeque, fruit salad, fried rice, pecan tarts, you name it, and it was there.

She put so much love and effort into her cooking. She loved it. Her love language was definitely, Acts of Service. She was always thinking about how to serve others.

She was very proud to be a Mary Johnston College of Nursing, Philippine Christian University graduate. She loved her batch mates and cherished the memories and time she was able to spend with them. She always looked forward to the reunions and connecting with her fellow classmates.

As a nurse, she spent 29+ years caring for people in the industry. She was a hard worker, many times working long shifts. She loved nursing. She once told me that she didn’t think that I would like to go into nursing.

She said, “ You wouldn’t like to clean people’s butts.” (Mom’s Advice)

Here is some of my favorite advice from mom:

(Mom’s Advice) “ Marry a Filipina so they will let you eat fish.”

(Mom’s Advice) “Don’t sit too close to the TV or you will hurt your eyes.”

(Mom’s Advice) If something is lost in the house, “Maybe your dad threw it away.”

(Mom’s Advice) “Don’t open Umbrella’s inside the house.”

(Mom’s Advice) “Don’t go outside at 12noon, the Sun is too hot.”

(Mom’s Advice) “Trust in God. Rely on Him.”

(Mom’s Advice) “You can do it.”

She loved her sisters and was very proud to be one of the five. She loved her parents, Tom and Lydia. She used to tell me stories of playing in the rain when they were younger. She also told me that Grandpa Tom used to have a lock on the TV in their house, so they couldn’t watch it all the time. The sisters even have a secret language that they speak in when they don’t want the kids to understand what they are talking about.

She was always thinking of her sisters and our extended family. When we were younger, she looked forward to our summer vacations, here in San Diego, in Maryland and out in the San Jose area. She cared for and thought of my cousins often. She asked about them and prayed for them and their well-being.

My mom was a fighter. She never quit. She kept going and lived her life in action, hope and faith.

There were times when I was feeling down and not performing up to my potential. She was there to encourage me and get me back on the right path.

Looking back at it now, I wish I was more patient towards her. I wish I was more loving. I wish I hugged her more. I wish I took her out to eat more often. I wish I traveled with her more.

This is a Bible verse that she taught me to love and live by:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understandings. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will guide your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

The past year has by far, been the most challenging year of our lives, supporting and encouraging my mom through her health situation. She was a champion through it all. She kept God by her side and praised Him every day.

She taught me, through action. Not just words, how a faithful person can face adversity and rely and trust on God alone.

My dad was there, every moment of the process. Though very challenging for him I saw what true dedication, commitment and honor is, especially to someone you love.

In her last couple weeks, I asked her, “Who’s the Man?!?” She would respond with a resounding, “JESUS!”

I’m sure she has already heard the words of Matthew 25:21

‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

- Michael Cabradilla

Myrna Ruth’s only son (And favorite son)

Special Thank You to Marcy Parayno and Aida Cabradilla, for their overwhelming support over the years. Thank you, especially for the last few weeks of mom’s life. We love you.

And a very Special Thanks to everyone who donated towards her alternative medical treatments that gave her peace, comfort and ultimately extended her life.

Rod & Cora Gonzales

Mark & Marlene Dionela

Robert & Elaine Wingo

Leonida Antonio

Joseph & Elizabeth Aldana

Blanca Santos

Marita Jackson

Melisa Khotsphom

Michele & Kenneth Quan

Angela & Akin Martin

Vivian Olmos

Tom Tangonan

Molly Angeles

Sean & Loren Mikael

Branden & Emilee Samaniego

Lani & Tito Devera

Rachel Mendoza

C J

Nathan & Jocelyn Terry

Albert Miranian

Cynthia & Tony Valverde

Joyce & Glenn Conte

Bahman Djalali

Liz & David Lequeux

Melinda Madrigal

Cesar Borja

Becky Cortez

Pete & Vicki Cordoba

Erma Santos

Albemar Espiritu

Hector Vasquez

Joseph McFetridge

Gabriela Damian

Faith Manacop

Leigh Anne Gubatayao

Michael Dorsey

Alan Leung

Kelly Sherrell

Lauren Duran

Jeffrey Gamble

Larry & DOni Smith

Irene Felix

Francis Serrano

Emily Atkins

Joanna Reliford-Sims

Arrangements under the direction of Glen Abbey Mortuary, Bonita, CA.