Quimbo, Dr. Araceli Cauntay, 70, of Costa Mesa, CA, passed away peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by her loved ones and entering Heaven on April 11, 2014. She was a courageous warrior in her 5-year battle with cancer, living the last of her days at home under the tender care of her beloved family. Araceli was born in Batangas City, Philippines to Gaudencio and Andrea (Sison) Cauntay on January 25, 1944. After receiving her doctorate in Pediatrics from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila in 1968, she received an opportunity to pursue both her internship and residency at State University-Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. She then married her college sweetheart, Generoso, at Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in Manhattan, NY. The newlyweds moved to Chicago, where she completed a Chief Pediatric residency at Mercy Hospital. Longing for the easier weather to raise their family, the Quimbo family moved to Costa Mesa in 1979, shortly after the birth of their youngest son, Chris. Araceli began her CA medical career at Chapman General Hospital in Orange. She eventually became the first female doctor and pediatrician to join the Yorba Park Medical Group. She was a popular, charismatic pediatrician, maintaining both a very busy practice and the position of Chairman of Pediatrics for St. Joseph's Heritage Medical Group. Retiring from Pediatrics in 2009, her career spanned 42 years with patients at St. Joseph's, Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), Chapman General Hospital and St. Jude Medical Center while garnering several accolades as NCQA Physician Practice Connections - Patient Centered Medical Home and Brides to Excellence Medical Home Recognition in 2012. In her spare time, she loved gardening, reading, shopping, traveling, and movie musicals. She is survived by her dear husband, retired Dr. Generoso Quimbo; her brother, Arturo Cauntay; and her loving children, Dr. Eric Quimbo of Anaheim, Christine Quimbo of Cypress, Jessica Quimbo Steen (Robert) of Costa Mesa and Chris Quimbo of Orange. She is also survived by her 2-year old grandson, Carter and the devoted family bulldog, Bear. A visitation will be held at the Harbor Lawn-Mt. Olive Memorial Park & Mortuary in Costa Mesa on Tuesday, April 15 from 4-8pm, with a rosary from 6-7pm. A funeral mass will be celebrated Wednesday, April 16 at 10am at St. John the Baptist Church in Costa Mesa, with a reception immediately following at Harbor Lawn-Mt. Olive Memorial Park & Mortuary. We will miss her every day, but we will never forget her unconditional love, her easy-going humor, and her joyful spirit.
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