Angelita Fuerte Villegas

We celebrate the life of Angelita “Angie” Fuerte Villegas. She passed away from complications during a surgery on Wednesday, December 3rd. Angie had lived with acute renal failure and was on dialysis for five years since her diagnosis. She had chosen to undergo an operation to continue with a different treatment to provide kidney functions. 

Angie’s love language was food and feeding the people most important to her. That meant making dinner from scratch every night, making huge portions for every family gathering, and showing up with numerous homemade dishes at every work potluck. No one will ever forget the care and passion she put into each serving for us to enjoy and appreciate. There wasn’t a single space she was in where she wasn’t asking about if we’d eaten yet or if we were going to have room for more. She even encouraged bringing food home and kept a supply of takeout boxes ready. Her caretaker tendencies were her strengths. 

Her kindness and generosity were everywhere in how she lived her life. Wherever Angie had been, from times with the extended family she grew up with in the Philippines, the 27 years on the IAM union at Boeing, or the variety of new people in her life as she navigated her health needs, she kept such pleasant company. She always had a natural smile on her face for others no matter what she was going through because she wanted others to feel comfortable. She always wanted the world to be nicer and lived the way she saw best to pay it forward. 

Angie was the second oldest daughter to Gabriel and Fidela Fuerte. She has 3 older brothers: Ron, Gabriel Jr and Edward. Her nickname “Baby” stuck even after her little sister Regina had arrived. Angie’s love has always been felt by her nieces and nephews because she loved them as her own.

Angie has two incredible grandsons she leaves to her family to continue spoiling. Her daughter Lita and son-in-law Reuben are parents to the oldest grandson, Nicolas “Nico” Winter at 6 years old. Her son Jerome and daughter-in-law Carolyn have the youngest grandson, Lennox Thomas at 2.5 years old. The two grandchildren are always so happy to be talking about and sharing stories of their Na-Na. The whole family continues the tradition of food as a love language, even though neither of the siblings were allowed in the kitchen much growing up. As hard as they tried to replicate her dishes, nothing came close to hers. It goes to show that not all qualities have to be taught to be inherited or passed down. 

As each day passes, Angie’s impact on our lives grows brighter. Our family and friends have brought their support and love for us throughout this challenging and ongoing journey. We all continue her legacy and memory in our own ways, whether that’s cooking for our loved ones or extending our generosity for those around us. She has a wonderful life, making the world better for others because of it. Her legacy leaves such an impact on those around her, a testament that she is the person living on in those who remember her. 

In lieu of flowers loved ones are encouraged to donate to Northwest Harvest, No Kid Hungry and/or Puget Sound Kidney Center.

A private family service was held on December 13. Celebration of Life details will be added after the Holidays.