Esther G. Espiritu

Ester Lagrosa Golingco Espiritu, a long time military wife and business owner, of Norfolk, VA, passed away peacefully on January 4, 2018, at her home after enduring the debilitating effects of a long illness. She was 86. Esther was born on August 16, 1931, to Pedro and Antonia Lagrosa Golingco in Tabaco, Albay, in the Philippines. She graduated in 1956 from University of Santo Thomas, the Catholic University of the Philippines, with a Bachelor of Science in Education. On January 3, 1960, she married Nemesio F. Espiritu, Sr., who proudly served the US government in military and civil service. He retired in 1990 after serving in the US Army, the US Navy and the US Post Office. They celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on January 3, 2010. He died in 2011. Esther was a librarian and a General Electric employee. She was the owner of Filipinana, the first Filipino restaurant at the Waterside Marketplace from 1983 - 1996. She expanded the business into private catering, food for the Navy, and outdoor festivals, including HarborFest and the Coors Town Point Jazz Festival. She was a member and organizer in the Bicol Association of Tidewater, the San Lorenzo Spiritual Center of Virginia Beach, and the annual Penanfrancia Festival. A dedicated and loving mother, Mrs. Espiritu is survived by her five children: Noel Espiritu of Chesapeake, VA; Emily Espiritu of Montgomery, AL; Elsie Bishop, her husband, Bill, and their children, William and Emma of Raleigh, NC; Jeffrey Espiritu of Chicago, IL; and Nemesio F. Espiritu, Jr. of Norfolk, VA. A visitation will be held from 1:00 - 3:00 pm on Sunday, January 14, 2018 at Rosewood Kellum Funeral Home. A Mass is scheduled at 11:00 am on Monday, January 15, 2018 at St. Gregory's the Great Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the American Stroke Association (https://donatenow.heart.org). Mrs. Espiritu will be interred at the Rosewood Memorial Park alongside her husband.