Elisa "Nanay" Galang

In her 92 years of existence, Elisa “Nanay” Torres Galang had faithfully performed her duties as a loving wife to Jaime, who she married on January 02, 1942 at the Tondo Catholic Church in the Philippines, and as a dutiful mother to their eight children, Norma, Juanita, Roglio, Eduardo, Erlinda, Julieta, Ricardo and Lilian. Another child, Benjamin died in infancy.

Born in the City of Manila, Philippines to Maximino Torres and Maria Fajardo of Calumpit, Bulacan, Philippines, on June 30, 1918, “Nanay” migrated to the United States in 1977, along with her husband and seven children. She took her oath as a U.S. citizen in 1982.

Since 1977, “Nanay” regularly visited her home country every year to bond with her daughter who lives with her family in the southern part of Manila and three grandchildren, whom she cared for when she was in the Philippines. It was only this year that she failed to do so as she down with illness.

Jovial “Nanay” loved the good life; she loved eating good food, watched TV shows being beamed from the Philippines, went shopping with her children and grandchildren. She had a particular fondness for Chinese food and seafoods, especially lobster, crab legs, lechon kawali, crispy pata and fried lapu-lapu that she ate with gusto. She helped her children raise up her grandchildren, taking care of them, from infancy to school age adulthood.

Often, she would say that she felt so lucky for being able to see and play with her great grandchildren, giving them the same love and care she accorded their parents. Her grandchildren and their families had developed a special closeness with her that they sought her out, wherever they might be. Even in her hospital bed, they stayed with her up to her up to her precious final hours.

“Nanay” will not be forgotten as the memories of her good deeds continue to live in the hearts of her loved ones, relatives and friends whose lives she touched in so many unforgettable ways in her lifetime.

“Nanay” succumbed to illness on November 27, 2010. Services were held at The Little Chapel of the Roses in Bonita, California. Elisa “Nanay” Torres Galang was laid to rest in Glen Abbey Memorial Park in Bonita, California.

Arrangements under the direction of Glen Abbey Mortuary, Bonita, CA.