Esperanza M Baylon

Esperanza M. Baylon who was born on June 28, 1924 in the town of Jaro, Leyte Phillippines to Jose Austria Mendoza and Gregoria Cloma Mendoza, passed away on May 31, 2014 due to complications from conjestive heart failure (CHF) at the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center in LaPlata, MD while receiving dialysis treatment.

After suffering from a stroke on December 4, 2013, she bravely fought to survive the next 6 months of her life. Due to the stroke, which had left her paralyzed on her left side along with a fractured hip (which was inoperable) she, of course, became bedridden. The last six months of her life were spent in the hospital and rehab center.

With a B/S in Education from Far Eastern University, majoring in English Literature, she became an English teacher at the local high schools where she grew up in San Carlos City, in the province of Pangasinan, Phillippines in her early 20’s.

She married her only husband, Pedro (Pete) A. Baylon on July 16, 1949.

His Navy career brought them both to their first home in the Norfolk/ Portsmouth area in the state of Virginia in 1951. Their oldest children, Mary and Terri, were born at DePaul Hospital in Norfolk in 1952. The other four were born at Portsmouth Naval Hospital between the years of 1954 and 1959.

In 1963, her husband was transferred to Washington, D.C. where he retired from military service in 1975 and his federal employee job at the White House in 1988. From 1963 to 1988, he served under six presidents. There was only one overseas tour (with family). This was in Stuttgart, Germany from December 1968 to late January 1970.

To her co-workers and friends, Esperanza was also known as “Espy” and “Spring”. Spring was a federal government employee from the mid 1960’s until her retirement in the spring of 1988. Like her husband, she too, worked under the Navy Department. Her places of employment were at Crystal City and the Washington Navy Yard.

Spring enjoyed her retirement years doting on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her biggest enjoyment was spending quality time with her family at Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving and birthdays at their home in Temple Hills, MD. When it came to her children, they had an open door policy for visits. She also loved get-togethers and partying with extended family and close friends. She was an avid reader of politics, literature and current events. She loved playing the piano and listening to classical music.

But, most of all she was a very religious and devout Catholic. Before her triple by-pass surgery in August 2005, she and her close friends held “prayer meetings” in their homes every Saturday for almost 6 years. At the end, it was her deep love for family and her deep faith in God that gave her the will to live.

Survivors include daughters: Mary B. Brackin (Jim) of Fairfax, VA, Terri Javier (Fred) of Manassas, VA, Sandy Funkhouser of Waldorf, MD, and Rebecca Thornton (Joe) of Richland, NC.; and two sons: Reny Baylon (Marissa) of Los Angeles, CA and Tony Baylon (Pam) of Alexandria, VA. She also leaves a sister, Gloria Agaton of Cerritos, CA. A brother, Jose Mendoza and a sister , Dr. Rosario Cortes, predeceased her. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Melissa (Mike) Myerly of Waldorf, MD, Michael Little of Los Angeles, CA , Jessica and Jordan Baylon, also, of Los Angeles, CA, Rachelle Sorg of Chicago, IL, James Sorg, Jr. of Dundalk, MD, Christina McLeary of Tulsa, OK, Michael Sorg of New Bern, NC, Donny Banashak (Missy) of Bethesda, MD, James Brackin III of Fairfax, VA and Gregory Baylon of Alexandria, VA. A grandson, Christopher Brackin, predeceased her. Her husband, Pedro A. Baylon, predeceased her.

She is also survived by 11 great-grandchildren: Emma and Ryan Banashak; Alex, Brandon, Justin, Preston and Leah Myerly; Hayden McLeary; Julien, Aiden, and Jace Sorg and several nieces and nephews. Survivors includes sister-in-laws Marcela Mendoza of Buena Park, CA and Teresita Cendreda of Moreno Valley, CA. Survivors in the Phillippines are her half-sisters and brothers and numerous cousins.