Lily Esmele

Mom Lily Esmele was born June 23, 1930, in Cebu City, Philippines to Genichi Shoji and Felisa Violanda.

During WW II, she was imprisoned by the Japanese Imperial Army in the Philippines, and after the war imprisoned by the Allies. Her entire family was sent back to her father’s home in the island of Kyushu, Japan. Five years later, she met her husband, SFC Myles Esmele Sr. via a blind date while he was on R&R from the Korean War.

She lived her life as a military spouse at Army bases all over the U.S. and Germany. Meanwhile her family grew. Mom Lily Esmele is a Nichiren Daishonin Buddhist, a way of life that embraced all religions. She would preach, “One should become the master of one's mind rather than let one's mind master him.”

Mom Lily Esmele is survived by her daughter Maria Louisa Fernandez, sons Myles Jr., Rommel, Ricky, Robert Esmele and whose children are married to William, Evelyn, Yohlee, Lisa, and Grace respectively. She has left a loving legacy of 15 Grandchildren and 14 Great Grandchildren.

Your Children, Grand Children, Great Grand Children and all the people that you touched to make this world a better place will surely miss you. We love you.