Hernando V. Zamora

“Seeing is believing.” For many, those words simply represent a motto. But for Hernando V. Zamora, it summarized in every way who he was. He was modest, quiet and observant, taking in everything around him and always thinking before acting. He was a realist, someone who was efficient and practical in everything he did. He was a friendly person who truly cared about those around him.

He was the son of Merardo and Victoria Zamora. Raised in Binan, Laguna and Concepcion,Tarlac, Philippines, he was brought up to be tolerant and trustworthy. As a child, he learned to be conscientious, responsible and punctual. These were all traits that he would carry with him throughout his life.

As a young boy, Hernando was always aware of how others around him felt and this quality served him well. With a deep capacity to tolerate the feelings of others, Hernando was generally able to avoid conflicts. It seemed as if Hernando was the family member who was always working to keep stress at bay. Preferring a quiet environment where he could concentrate, Hernando also had the ability to relate well with his family and friends. Hernando was raised with ten siblings. He had six brothers, Jaime, Rodolfo, Dante, Nestor, Des and Rolando, and four sisters, April, Norma, Lydia and Rebecca. Hernando was constantly involved in activities with his family. Hernando and his siblings had the typical rivalries while growing up but they deeply cared for each other and shared many life experiences over the years.

Hernando had a good disposition for the challenges of college. He always enjoyed reading, so all of those lengthy required reading assignments seemed to be less of a burden for him. In fact, Hernando seemed to absorb and remember everything he read. Not all things came easily to Hernando, however, and he found success by being a diligent and accurate person who would dig into a project and work through until it reached its completion. He was very thorough and labored long and hard in order to reach his goals. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Banking and Finance, at University of the East.

Love can’t be defined but must be experienced. That was so true for Hernando. It was as if Hernando naturally sensed his spouse’s needs, and accepted those feelings unconditionally. Although Hernando disliked conflict, he did not take flight from discord, but rather sought to preserve harmony even during the most trying times.

If you gave Hernando a deadline, he would meet it. At work, Hernando was always on task. Without hesitation, Hernando could adhere to any assignment and see it through to its completion. He was employed for 25 years at Ysmael Steel Co., in the Philippines, and for 20 years at Prince Castle, Inc., in Carol Stream, IL. During that time, Hernando excelled in working with small groups in order to complete assignments. He was able to quickly grasp concrete ideas and could organize and plan the best way to accomplish things with remarkable consistency. Hernando was good at staying on track and was considerate in listening to what others had to say. In this way, Hernando had a true gift for being able to come up with practical resolutions to difficult problems. He was often the team member who managed to put forth a win/win solution for all parties.

Hernando liked to experience things first hand, in addition to simply learning about them. This quality influenced Hernando's choice of leisure time activities. A methodical and patient worker, Hernando preferred to set aside uninterrupted time to work on his hobbies. His favorite pursuits were collecting DVDs, CDs and VHS tapes. Hernando was content to sit quietly alone and watch movies, enjoying his hobbies all by himself, listening to his favorite music and hoping the Chicago Cubs win the World Series.

An individual who respected and maintained traditional values, his faith was important to Hernando. His compassion, consideration and sympathy toward others was evident in his personal beliefs. He was a member of St. Matthews Catholic Church for 20 years.

Doing things to help others seemed to come naturally to Hernando. He never set out to gain individual recognition, but the praise and accolades given him for his many and varied efforts throughout his life were well deserved. Some of his most prestigious awards included the Retirement Award from Prince Castle. Hernando's retirement finally arrived in May 21, 2008

Anyone who traveled or went on vacation with Hernando had smooth sailing. His most memorable trip was going to Tokyo, Japan with his sister April and brother Des. He would start early and examine all of the possibilities, selecting the best and most effective options. Favorite vacations includes going back home to the Philippines, Seattle, and Vancouver, Canada.

Hernando had Denver, a German Shepard Dog, who was his best friend for 5 years. Hernando was as loyal to his pets as they were to him.

Hernando passed away on June 1, 2012 at Lexington Health Care. He fought a brave battle against cancer for 5 years and 3 months. He is survived by his brothers, Jaime, Dante, Nestor and Des; his sisters, April, Norma and Rebecca; and his in-laws, Generosa, Prospero and Siegfredo. Visitation held at Cypress Funeral Home, 1698 N. Bloomingdale Rd., Glendale Heights, IL, on Tuesday, June 5, 2012, from 3-9 p.m. with funeral service at 7 p.m. Interment is private. Hernando's resting place to be at Concepcion Cemetery in the Philippines.

It is said that some people can’t see the forest for the trees. Hernando was able to focus on each individual tree, tending to its needs, thus making the forest stronger as a whole. Hernando was a trustworthy, pragmatic and sympathetic person, the kind of man to whom everyone was drawn. He was thorough and practical. Hernando Zamora was very literal with his words. You always knew where you stood with Hernando. He will be missed.