Cecilia was born to Ambrosio Nicolas and Asuncion Javier on October 9, 1939, in Santa Cruz, Manila, in the Philippines. She grew up in Cavite City, Philippines, and attended high school and college in Manila. On December 25, 1962, Cecilia married her childhood friend Rolando Legaspi in Cavite City.
While Rolando served in the U.S. Navy, the family lived in various places around the world before finally settling in Pensacola. Cecilia and Rolando became well known as the proprietors of Loreale’s Loompia House, a popular Pensacola restaurant serving Filipino cuisine.
Cecilia was an avid cook and gardener; family and guests in her home were always treated to her delicious dishes. She was a member of the Pensacola Filipino-American Association, and she regularly attended Little Flower Catholic Church and St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, both in Pensacola.
Cecilia is survived by her husband Rolando and son Rodney Legaspi, both of Pensacola; daughter Laraine Mayhan and her husband Brett Mayhan of Lilburn, Georgia; daughter Celinda Fruitticher and her husband Tom Fruitticher of Gulf Breeze, Florida; and son Ronald Legaspi and his wife Irene Legaspi of Fort Myers, Florida.
Cecilia is also survived by her grandchildren: Evan and Cecilia Mayhan of Lilburn, Georgia; Shandy Rich of Buckhead, Georgia, and Justin Fruitticher of Gulf Breeze, Florida; and Anatolia, Evangelina, and Nicolas Legaspi of Fort Myers, Florida.
Cecilia’s viewing will be held at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Pensacola on Monday, November 19, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. It will be followed by mass at 11:30 a.m., and the graveside service will be held at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Florida, at 1:00 p.m. Following that, a celebration of Cecilia’s life will be held at St. John’s at 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. John Catholic School in Pensacola.
Oak Lawn Funeral Home in Pensacola is managing the arrangements.
