Lourdes D Borja

Lourdes, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away on August 17, 2026, at the age of 72. She leaves behind a beautiful legacy of faith, love, sacrifice, and devotion to her family.

Lourdes was born on January 20, 1954, in the Philippines to Dolores Duclayan and Alfredo Duclayan. She grew up alongside her siblings, Wilfredo, Trinidad, Jimena, and Villamor, learning from an early age the importance of family, hard work, faith, and perseverance.

Above all else, Lourdes was a devout Catholic woman whose faith was at the center of her life. Her relationship with God was not simply something she practiced—it was something she lived every day. She found comfort, strength, and hope through her faith and dedicated countless hours to prayer. She prayed for her children, her grandchildren, her husband, and the people she loved, often putting their needs before her own. Her devotion to God could be seen in the way she lived, loved, served others, and cared for her family. Church and prayer were an important part of her life, and she carried her faith with her through every chapter of her journey.

Lourdes' life was a testament to love and sacrifice. Her love story with her husband began in the Philippines. As a young boy, her husband lost both of his parents. He eventually worked for Lourdes' family as a family helper, where the two fell in love. What began as a simple meeting became a lifelong love story. They married in 1971 and built a life together rooted in love, faith, family, and perseverance.

In the Philippines, Lourdes was a farmer. She worked alongside her husband, growing and selling vegetables at the market. She knew the meaning of hard work and never hesitated to do whatever was necessary to provide for her family. Her hands were accustomed to working the land, preparing food, caring for others, and building a life for the people she loved.

In 1985, Lourdes made the difficult decision to go abroad and work as a domestic helper. She made this sacrifice with a purpose: to help provide opportunities for her children and to support their education. She willingly spent time away from home because she believed in giving her family a better future. Her sacrifices were an expression of the deep love she had for her children.

After spending time abroad, Lourdes returned to the Philippines and continued caring for her family. In December 2002, she moved to America and began another chapter of her life. She worked as a caregiver, continuing the work of caring for others that had always come so naturally to her.

But perhaps the role she cherished most was being a grandmother.

Lourdes devoted so much of her life to her grandchildren. In America, she helped raise them and was there for them every day while their parents worked. She woke up with them in the mornings, helped prepare them for school, cared for them throughout the day, cooked for them, and made sure they were never without someone who loved them. Her grandchildren were incredibly important to her, and she often put them before herself—even when she was tired or not feeling well.

Lourdes also enjoyed the simple joys of life. In the Philippines, she enjoyed crocheting, and she found happiness in caring for her family and spending time in prayer. She did not need much to be happy. Her greatest joy was knowing that the people she loved were cared for and doing well.

In 2023, Lourdes was diagnosed with cancer, beginning one of the most difficult chapters of her life. As the illness progressed, it eventually took her life. Yet even through the pain, uncertainty, and darkness of those years, Lourdes remained faithful. She continued to pray, continued to find reasons to be joyful, and continued to love and care for the people around her. Even when she was facing her own suffering, she remained focused on her family and continued to put others before herself. Her ability to remain faithful and joyful during such a difficult time was a beautiful reflection of the strength of her faith.

Lourdes will be remembered for her kindness, strength, generosity, faith, and unconditional love. She gave so much of herself to her family and never stopped praying for the people she loved.

She is survived by her loving children, grandchildren, siblings, extended family, and all those who were blessed to know her.

To her grandchildren, she was so much more than a grandmother. She was a caregiver, a protector, a source of comfort, a cook, a prayer warrior, and one of the greatest examples of unconditional love they could have ever known.

Though she is no longer here with us, the faith she lived by and the love she gave will continue through every person she touched.

We find comfort in knowing that the woman who spent her life praying for everyone else is now resting in the presence of the God she loved and served so faithfully.

May she rest in eternal peace. May perpetual light shine upon her. And may God welcome His faithful servant home.

Until we meet again, Grandma. Thank you for loving us, praying for us, and giving us a lifetime of memories. We love you forever. 🤍

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.