Luisa was born on April 27, 1948, in the barrio of Labuan, in San Quintin, Pangasinan, Philippines, to Faustino Gamboa and Guillerma Pascua, and was the youngest of seven children. She was generous and always wanted to help others and her family, and eventually graduated from the University of Baguio and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education.
On January 5, 1972, Luisa married Roxas Felipe Acosta. Together they raised two sons, Reginald and Roxas JR, and one daughter Roxanne; and cared for their two granddaughters, Rylie and Stella. As a proud military spouse, Luisa enjoyed traveling with her husband and family, experiencing new environments and cultures and meeting new friends. She enjoyed expressing her creative side in ceramics and macrame. She was a devout Catholic and had a passion for socializing with family and friends. At home she was an amazing cook and with Roxas had a natural “green thumb” and reveled in seeing their garden bloom and bear fruit.
Luisa had a varied and compelling career: as a school teacher at an elementary school in Guam, a restaurateur in the Philippines and worked for the Navy Exchange at various military bases where Roxas was stationed. Later, Luisa decided to pursue her life-long passion for helping others and became an owner and operator for Endless Care, a residential care facility for the elderly in San Jacinto, California, from 2007 to 2021.
Luisa was preceded in death by her father, Faustino, her mother, Guillerma, and her siblings Lauriana Gamboa Ruiz, Manuel Gamboa, Marcelino Gamboa, Marcelina Gamboa Natino, and Dominador Gamboa. She is survived by her son, Reginald Acosta, daughter Roxanne Acosta Belauskas, son JR Acosta, her granddaughters Rylie Belauskas and Stella Belauskas, and her brother Jose Gamboa and his wife Bertha, and many nieces and nephews. Luisa will be forever remembered by her large extended family and dear friends.
Visitation services will be held on Saturday, March 16, and Sunday, March 17, 2024, at 5 p.m., and a Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 7 p.m., with both events at the Funeraria del Angel on 753 Broadway in Chula Vista, California.
A funeral mass will be held on Monday, March 18, 2024, at 11 a.m., at St. Michael Catholic Church on 2643 Homedale Street in San Diego, California.
A committal service with military funeral honors will be held, following the funeral mass at 1:15 p.m. at Miramar National Cemetery on 5795 Nobel Drive in San Diego, California.