It is with great sadness to hear the passing of a loving, vibrant, generous and positively inspirational woman whom we fondly called, Mommy Lulu. I extend my deepest condolences to your beloved family and friends and I pray for love, comfort and peace for everyone. 

Mommy Lulu is our kind, lively and generous aunt who loved and treated us less different and like her own. She will often send us letters, postcards and balikbayan boxes, bringing us childhood joys and excitement. She has always been a part of our lives growing up through her visits and attendance in our important milestones in life.

She has always reminded us to reach for our dreams and make a fulfilling and happy lives for ourselves through hard work, academic excellence and unwavering faith and resilience. 

I will never forget, on your first visit here in Vancouver, how you cooked your secret recipe of palabok and those crunchy oven-baked pork skins, where in with a wink and a hearty laugh you whispered how it’s okay to eat them as long as in moderation. 

Thank you so much Mommy Lulu for all the love, care, happy memories but most of all for giving us importance and your precious time.

I know in my heart that you will be happy to see Mom with our Creator. I pray that you’ll eternally rest in peace and may perpetual light always shine upon you.

I will miss you so dearly.

We love you and you will always be in our hearts.

Alvin, Jeff, Jason, Maret & Tim

Marcia,
Many condolences, prayers, and love sent to you and your entire family during this very difficult time. 
I will always remember and cherish all the wonderful video's you would share of your mom singing.   She now sings with the Angels watching over you all.   May God bring you comfort and Peace in the coming days, and years to follow.   She will forever live in your heart, mind, and in the wonderful memories you shared with her.  Rest in Peace Lulu. 
Love, Heather, Derek, and Olivia 

Lulu was my mom and very best friend.  She embodied wonderful traits throughout her lifetime.

Mom had amazing strength as she faced adversities and life challenges at a very early age.  She lost her parents leaving six children behind with mom being the oldest.  She grew up during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, struggled through divorce and battled breast cancer.  Her strength and courage helped her survive these.

Mom was a loving and caring mother.  I didn't realize the depth of her love until our brother Ted passed away.  She bore the loss of one of her children as though a great part of her was gone.

Mom was career-minded and loved her profession as a registered nurse.  She worked for over 40 years beginning as a rural nurse and midwife and ending her career at Sparrow Hospital in the maternity ward.  I have come across so many mothers who said mom took care of them making their childbirth experiences easier.

Mom was very generous and giving.  Not only did she shower us with gifts throughout the year, she was also giving of her time.  She was always willing and ready to babysit anytime we called on her.  Her five grandchildren still remember all the fun sleepovers they had at grandma’s house.

Mom was energetic and fun-loving.  She was an expert in the Chinese game of Mahjong.  She taught so many friends how to play it.  Mom also loved going to the casinos to play the penny machines.  There were so many times she lost, but she won a jackpot in Vegas.  

Mom was politically active.  She joined numerous political discussions at the Hannah Center and was always ready and willing to debate.

Mom was a fantastic cook and gardener.  She loved preparing Filipino dishes and desserts at home and at potlucks.  She took pride in her beautiful garden.  She spent hundreds of hours tending to her garden.

Theses are a few traits I will cherish and remember her by and try to live accordingly.  I will treasure her memory in my heart forever.

To many we knew her as Lu Lu. In her native tongue there is a word that describes her very well: kaibigan. In English we use the word friend. 
She was a true friend. In fact, in the Christian faith, she was called to be a friend. When Jesus Christ was asked what was the highest commandment, he  instructed his disciples,  “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” 
These words were more than just part of an ancient text. These were the central commandments that informed her existence. She prayed to God every day. As for her family and friends, she was generous in every way possible. 
Having a servant’s heart explains why she became a nurse. She wanted to heal and comfort others. But this was more than a job, it was a calling. 
Early in her career, she accepted an assignment: helping impoverished people in the areas outside of Manila. She did not have to take this assignment. She did it because this way she could do the most good. 
One of the other great challenges that she met was bringing her family from the Philippines to the United States. Often, I have referred to her as the Filipina Moses. 
While Lu Lu did well, she still had the hunger for more wealth. At times, she would stretch her arms over her head like a boxer celebrating victory, and declare, “I’m rich.” The truth is that she was not actually rich financially. But she was rich in spirt. 
While Lu Lu had charisma in abundance, people loved her because her charm was matched with the spirit of love. It is rare to find someone who is both so gifted, and so kind. Those of us who have had the pleasure of knowing her have been given a great gift: the gift of true friendship. Lu Lu honored that second commandment to love thy neighbor as thyself.  We have all become rich from that gift. 
Lu Lu, you are my best friend. 



“I’ll be loving you Always  with a love that’s true Always.  When the things you’ve planned need a helping hand, I will understand Always.”

Whenever the topic of my mom, Lulu, comes up in conversation, without fail people will declare “I love Lulu!”  then proceed to give the reasons why.   “She is so funny!  She’s got such a great spirit! She is such a strong woman! She’s not afraid to speak her mind!”  And most commonly “She is so kind and generous.  She really helped me…” 

Whether you knew her for five minutes or five decades, she made a connection with you.  For you, she gave of herself freely and without reservation.  She gave of her time.  She shared her strength when you needed some.  She gave food, shelter and anything else you needed, and regardless of whether or not you asked- she gave you her pearls of wisdom and opinions.  She helped and shared and gave of herself out of pure love for you.  She wanted you to be okay.

So know that while she is no longer with us, she is with you in your heart and that she loves you too.

“Not for just an hour.  Not for just a day.  Not for just a year.  
But Always.”

I love you so much, mom.  

From  the first I met her, Lourdes, was warm, welcoming and ‘jolly’! I always felt part of her family and loved for whom I was.
Lourdes was a giving, caring person. She hosted family dinners where she prepared favorite Filipino dishes. Afterwards there would be a session of Mah Jong, a Chinese card game. Throughout there would be lively conversation and loads of teasing and laughing. When Aurora and I married and began having our own children she was always available to baby sit and help out. One example I recall clearly was when she came over to calm baby and parents in order to  begin breast feeding.
Lourdes was intelligent, hardworking, politically aware and professional as a nurse. However, she wasn’t beyond stretching the rules when she was Aurora’s nurse after both our daughter’s births. Our oldest was born Christmas Day and she hurried us all in to Aurora’s room so we could celebrate Christmas.
Lourdes also was full of heart and soul. Like all of us she was imperfect but you knew what she believed in and she expressed it with passion. Her physical presence will be missed but her spirit will always remain in our hearts. 
That’s the caring spirit that introduced a single woman she knew from work to a single man she met at church. They dated and went on to marry, have a daughter who just graduated from college and go on loving each other til this day.
That’s the wise heart that told me with a loving smile that I needn’t be concerned about disciplining our not yet one year old daughter. She added “you really can’t spoil a child before they turn one.” That was 40 some years ago but at the time it loosened me up, told me just to love and enjoy my kids and I passed that on to my daughters, her grandchildren, as well.
Lourdes was wise in that way. An old saying I found seems to describe the simple yet profound wisdom she embodied.
“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly,
what is essential is invisible to the eye”.
Love you Lulu!

Thank you Auntie Lulu,
 for all the love & support, easy laughter and sunny optimism you shared with us. Thank you for your model of independence. Thank you for your strength and bravery that brought your family to Lansing, MI. Growing up with you and our cousins, whether that be in our house or all the way across the street, defined my childhood, and instilled in me the life lesson of family first. Our family growing up with your family was simply, the best. Thank you.
As you journey home to be reunited with the so many loved ones who await you, rest easy knowing you have completed a job well done. I will truly miss you.
To Dan, Aurora, Bob, Marcia and families, I share love & strength with you, especially in those lonely moments of sorrow. May love be what you remember most. Love you all,
Felicia

I see joy when I look at photographs of Mom.
 
The smile on her face was not an affectation for good picture taking but was a genuine manifestation of a joyous life. One that she led with fierce independence, supreme confidence and sunny optimism.
 
With  words and actions she showed me the path to a happy life: unwavering optimism, hard work, quality time with family and close friends, and courtesy and generosity to everyone you encounter.

I've been so fortunate to have the most loving, giving, and supportive grandmother a grandson could ever wish for.  Your love has had an impact on everyone who had the pleasure of knowing you. Love you always.

We hardly see Tita Lulu. But I will always remembered her beautiful smile. Rest in peace Tita Lulu. Thank you .
                                 Anne Bugayong and family   

I always remember Lulu as a gentle and warm person who almost always had a smile on her face regardless of the occasion. May God bless her and her family. I will miss her pleasant company. In Jesus’ name, John Spielberg

How lucky we are to have had Grandma Lou in our lives. Growing up, there was nothing better than weekend sleepovers at Grandma’s with the pull out couches, Billy Madison on repeat, crab dip and Nesquik, trying (unsuccessfully) to ride the unicycle in the basement and piling into her red car to window shop around the mall. Grandma taught us to enjoy the little things in life and the importance of being independent. Thank you for everything you did for us, Grandma Lou. We love and miss you. 

Lulu,

I was blessed when Marcia shared her mom with me! During my time in Lansing,  and my pregnancy specifically, you were a wonderful, much appreciated mother figure.  Your strength gave me strength.  Your belief that I could take on the job of being a working mother helped me more than words can say.  Rest peacefully knowing you touched so many with your honesty and kindness.

Liz and Jaxson

Mommy Lulu and my Mom Amelita
Sisters are forever 💓 
Together in heaven. Smile and have fun always.
Love you both.
From
Maret Vancouver

Mommy Lulu thank you for always visiting mom here in Vancouver. We are all greatful for your kindness and being a good sister to Mom. You are now with her in heaven and I'm sure you are looking down on us watching. Thank you for all the sweet memories you shared with us and you will always be remembered in our hearts. Thank you for your love and those Christmas gifts that you always send to us we will always cherish. You were our second Mom and I will miss your smile.  I love you always.
For the family may you find peace and love at this time of sorrow.
Take care always.

Grandma Lou,

You were the nurse at my birth! And then you helped raise all five of us: Kristen, Amy, Evan, Andrea and Adam. It’s impossible to think of my childhood without remembering your garden, sleepovers with chocolate milk & Billy Madison, and of course, your red Toyota Camry.

I find myself channeling your strength, humility, and candor more now than ever. I know we are your wildest dreams.

I love you,
Andrea

Dear Marcia,

After reading the story of your Mom's life, it is easy to see where your kind and caring personality along with your zest for life evolved from! You are and have been a wonderful reflection of Lulu. 
And to John, how wonderful that you had such a fun and loving connection with Lulu as well.  May comfort and peace be with you and all of your family. 

Marcia
My deepest condolences to you and your family. I always love to hear you talk about your Mother and how close you were to her. You will always have those wonderful memories! You were blessed.

Love
Paula Tarras

Such a wonderful lady and I always enjoyed Marcia’s Lulu stories, she was quite the entertainer.
I know how much her family loved her. Many hugs and prayers for Marcia and the family during this difficult time. 
Julie and Matt Gray 

Lulu will be missed very much at the Willows.  She was such a delight and loved to go shopping with us at Meijer.

OBITUARY

Lourdes "Lulu" Galauran Anselmo

November 27, 1931 – April 10, 2023

Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes

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