Napoleon Cleto Farala

Napoleon grew up in La Paz, San Narciso, Zambales, in the Philippines. His mother died in childbirth when he was seven years old. His father, in his grief and in feeling he could not raise his son on his own, brought him to live with his aunties, Victoria Aquino and Prima Aquino. They brought him up as their own, loving him as a son.

Napoleon married Catalina Abigania in the Philippines in 1955. She was the love of his life. Their marriage of 69 years was filled with love, the normal trials of married life, and was blessed with three children. They were sweet to each other and their long marriage is a testament to love and forgiveness.

As a young man, Napoleon joined a subversive guerrilla group in 1942, their mission was to support and aid the American military forces in defeating the Japanese. At the conclusion of World War II, the United States military dispatched large trucks to recruit courageous young Filipino men to enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces. Napoleon joined the US Navy in 1946. He served in the US Navy serving through the Korean conflict and Vietnam war. His total time with the US Navy was 20 years. During his service he saw Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Paris, France; Madrid, Spain; Rome, Italy; and Athens, Greece. His stations in the US included Jacksonville, Florida and Bremerton, Washington. After retiring from the military, Napoleon took a job with the Diocese of San Diego. He cooked for Bishop Maher, Monsignor Eagan, and many other priests. After leaving the Diocese, he took a job working at the 32nd Street Naval Base bowling alley.

Napoleon was a quiet, simple man who loved his family and had an incredible heart for people. He lived his life with no regrets. He made it a priority to bring people together and ensure no one was ever left out. His gentle encouragement and loving ways were an inspiration and example to many who knew him. Napoleon enjoyed many activities, including fishing, gardening, cooking, and watching the horse races in Del Mar. His favorite of all, however, was spending time with his family—especially his children, grandchildren, and, in later years, his great-grandchildren.

Napoleon was preceded in death by his parents Eulogio Farala and Teresa Cleto Farala, brother Bartolome Farala, and sister Leonida Farala Miranda.

Napoleon is survived by his loving wife Catalina A. Farala, his children Gil (Angela) Farala, Teresa (Richard) Wolfe, Napoleon A. Farala ; his grandchildren Jennifer (Semenyo) Abreni, John Paul Farala, Janet Farala , Jeffrey Farala, Ethan Wolfe, Justine Alegre, Xavier Farala; and his great grandchildren Kekeli and Nova Abreni.

Catalina A. Farala and family