She was born in Calaguiman, Samal, Bataan, Philippines and is preceded in death by her father Eliseo Datu deGuzman; mother Lucia Capili deGuzman; youngest brother, Jaime “Emmie” Capili deGuzman; and most recently, her brother Florencio “Otoy” Capili deGuzman.
Merly earned a teaching degree from National Teacher College in Manila, Philippines in 1963 and started her career as a first grade teacher in her hometown of Bataan. After getting married to her childhood sweetheart, Manny, on June 6, 1970, she proudly supported her husband for over 16 years as a US Navy wife and working mother of three through several deployments and change of stations in Key West, Mayport, Pensacola, FL; Patuxent River, MD; and Norfolk, VA, which ultimately became “home” to their family after his retirement from the Navy.
With a growing interest in accounting and mathematics, Merly switched careers and secured federal employment with Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), part of the US Dept. of Defense at Norfolk Naval Station. In 2006, she made the gracious decision to retire a few months shy of her planned 26 year retirement date to help care for her long awaited grandson, Ryan, whom she lovingly doted upon. Considering herself a business minded person, Merly expanded her entrepreneurial ventures for many years as an AVON Representative and also running her own balikbayan business she named Bataan Express.
She had an artistic flair for cooking, sewing, crocheting and ceramics. Great pride in having learned to cook during her formative years allowed her to create the most delicious home prepared filipino dishes. An avid sewer, she expressed her love for her first born, Lem, with mother-daughter outfits. She was active in the Bataan Association of Virginia, The Fifth Dimension Dance Group, and JEB Little Creek Bowling Leagues. Traveling to visit relatives and friends in different US cities or to their Philippines homeland every couple of years, going on adventures abroad to the Holy Land (Israel and Egypt Pilgrimage) and taking cruises to Italy, Spain, and France helped keep her young. But probably her most defining pleasure was spent doing Zumba and ballroom and line dancing with her beloved partner, Manny.
Her altruistic nature cannot be overlooked. Always a giving and selfless person, she and Manny sacrificed much to provide a better life for others in their large families. They worked multiple jobs to give their children the opportunity for the American Dream that they passionately believed in and to support family members that remained in the Philippines, or those they had sponsored for US citizenship and brought to the mainland.
Religion and being a faithful Christian servant of the Lord was an important part of Merly’s life, as she dutifully and joyously did so by serving the churches she attended through different capacities. Beginning at her hometown church of Calaguiman Iglesia Evangélica Metodista en las Islas Filipinas (IEMELIF), Bataan, PI, she contributed as a Sunday school teacher, church treasurer, and church board member. After moving to the United States, she, Manny, and their growing family were longtime members of Saint John’s United Methodist Church in Norfolk, VA, followed by JEB Little Creek Chapel in Virginia Beach, VA. She was cherished as a choir member, Scripture Reader, Vacation Bible School volunteer, and avid bible study student.
Her successful goal in life was the installation of her love of and strong faith in Christ in her children and grandson by sharing her favorite church hymns, bible scriptures and stories, and teaching them the importance of open-hearted prayer.
Left to cherish her memory are her loving husband of 54 years, Manuel “Manny” B. Cortez; daughter Lemannie “Lem” C. Wells (Jason); sons Brian “BJ” (Marleen) and Adam; grandchildren Ryan Cortez McSpedden and Alben Joshua “AJ” Lumalang; granddogs Goku, Winston, and Ted E.; sister, Fe Monzon (Caesar); nieces, nephews, and a host of other family and friends who truly loved her.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, October 31, from 5 to 7 pm at Rosewood-Kellum Funeral Home on 631 N. Witchduck Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23462.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, November 1, from 11 am to 12 pm at Thalia Lynn Baptist Church on 4392 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA 23462 by the Rev. Prentis McGoldrick, followed by entombment at Rosewood Memorial Park.
Friends may offer condolences at www.kellumfuneralhome.com
