Cresencia G. Montemer

Montemer, Cresencia (Cris), 83, went to meet her Lord on Sunday June 29, 2014 in Los Alamitos, CA. Cris was born on September 14, 1930 in the Philippines to Dr. Gaudencio Garcia and Maria Lourdes Angeles Garcia. She was the third eldest of 15 children. God blessed her family as they survived the Japanese occupation of the Philippine Islands during WWII. She often told us that what time she was given after the war was a gift from God since they faced certain death many time during the war. Cris married Leo Montemer, Jr. in May 1950. Leo was 22 and an only child, an American who also lived through the horrors of war. He died in 1974 at the age of 46 from a cardiac illness contracted as prisoner during the early years of the occupation of Manila. Leo went back to the U.S. in 1952 and sent Trans-Pacific passage on the U.S. President Wilson to Cris and their two sons, James (Jim) and William (Bill). She started a new life in the United States. Their son Gary was born in Long Beach and the family settled in Lakewood, CA (Long Beach Zone 8 at the time!) They were later blessed with their only daughter, Christine (Tina). Cris and Leo had a fourth son, Ivan Lee, who passed away shortly after his birth. Leo, always caring for our mom, moved our family shortly after the baby’s death to the Lakewood Country Club, where she lived for many years. Cris bravely sold the family home when the boys were out of the house and moved to Huntington Beach with daughter Tina. She had a short career in real estate but eventually found her way to the mortgage area of Home Savings/Washington Mutual. Cris loved to travel; she often booked cruises by herself and always came back with great stories. One of her favorite trips was to visit her sister in Switzerland, where they visited many places in Europe. Cris continued to travel often with daughter Tina to her favorite places which included Maui, Mammoth Lakes and the California wine country. Cris was the long time organist at St. Pancratius Church in Lakewood. She also played many years as a wedding accompanist. She was also involved in activites for the parish elementary school where all four children attended. The Montemer’s were one of the founding families of this new Catholic Church. Cris was continually blessed by God! She was also a cancer survivor who was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s in 1997. She fought the disease with doctors and prayers. God blessed her with many more years. Cris was a faithful “Prayer Warrior”, who daily spent time with her Lord and Savior rejoicing in His blessings and praying for family and friends. Cris is survived by sons, Jim (Jayne), Bill (Patty) Gary (Juliet) and daughter Tina. She is blessed with seven grandchildren, Erik (Amanda), TJ, Sammy and Max from Jim and Jayne, Nick and Jimmy from Bill and Patty, and Miles from Gary and Juliet. Erik and Amanda gave her three great grandchildren, Abigail, Bryce and Jared. Cris has siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews in the Garcia Family around the world that enjoyed and loved her. Her smile, kindness, independence and humor will always be missed. Her memorial Mass will be at St. Pancratius Church, Lakewood CA on Wednesday July 2 at 2:00 PM.