Nerizza Palos Andrada

"To heal, to serve, and to love—these were not simply the principles by which Dr. Nerizza P. Andrada lived; they were the legacy she leaves to all who knew her."

Some people leave behind accomplishments. Others leave behind lives forever changed by their kindness. Dr. Nerizza P. Andrada leaves both. It is with profound sadness and deep gratitude that we celebrate the remarkable life of our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, physician, military officer, and faithful servant of God.

Born in the Philippines to Bonifacio and Fidencia Palos, Nerizza was raised alongside her brother Edgardo Palos and sisters, Mila Dajoyag and Gaynora Palos in Cubao, Quezon City. Nerizza was called to medicine from an early age. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Preparatory Medicine before receiving her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center in Manila. In 1967, shortly after graduating from medical school, she married the love of her life, Walfredo Andrada. Together they embarked on a new journey with just two suitcases and their degrees, immigrating to Chicago, Illinois in 1968 to build a life founded on faith, service, perseverance, and opportunity. Their marriage of nearly 60 years was a beautiful testament to enduring love, unwavering devotion, and steadfast partnership.

After completing her internship and residency training in Chicago, Dr. Andrada began what would become an extraordinary career of service through medicine. She proudly served for two decades in the United States Air Force Medical Corps, ultimately achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Throughout her distinguished military career, she served at March and Norton Air Force Bases in California, Hellenikon Air Base in Athens, Greece, and Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada. As both a physician and medical leader, she held numerous leadership roles, including Chief of Primary Care, Chief of Clinical Services, Chief of Radiology, Chief of the Immediate Team, and Emergency Room Physician.

Dr. Andrada was respected as an exceptional physician whose calm demeanor, remarkable clinical judgment, and compassionate heart earned the admiration of colleagues and patients alike. During her assignment in Greece, she courageously helped lead the medical response following terrorist bombings, providing lifesaving triage and care to numerous victims. During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, she worked tirelessly to ensure the medical readiness of deploying service members while caring for military families with extraordinary dedication.

Whether mentoring young physicians, improving hospital quality initiatives, delivering emergency medical care, or comforting patients during their most vulnerable moments, she exemplified excellence, humility, and grace. To those who worked alongside her, she was an inspiring leader. To those she cared for, she was a trusted physician whose compassion was as remarkable as her medical expertise.

Retirement from the Air Force did not signal the end of her career—it simply opened another chapter. She continued caring for others as a physician with the County of Riverside at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside, California, providing compassionate healthcare to an often-underserved population. She also generously volunteered as a family practice physician at the Lestonnac Free Clinic, where she faithfully cared for the uninsured and underserved members of the community. For Dr. Andrada, medicine was never simply a profession—it was a calling she joyfully answered throughout her life.

While her professional accomplishments and commendations were extraordinary, she also found joy in the people she loved. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, cherished grandmother, loyal friend, and the heart of her family. She delighted in spending time with her children and grandchildren, celebrating their accomplishments, sharing her experience and knowledge, and creating treasured memories together.

Dr. Andrada embraced life's simple pleasures. She loved to dance (especially line dancing), travel the world, found joy in reading, and treasured the many lifelong friendships she cultivated over the years. Her warmth, kindness, gentle humor, and genuine interest in others made everyone feel welcomed and valued. She had an extraordinary gift for making people feel cared for, whether they were lifelong friends, neighbors, colleagues, or someone she had just met.

A devout Catholic, Dr. Andrada's faith was the foundation of her life. Service has always defined her. In fact, she initially considered life as a nun. Her faith guided every decision she made, strengthened her through life's challenges, and inspired her lifelong commitment to serving others. She lived her faith through prayer, humility, generosity, and countless quiet acts of compassion. Her life reflected Christ's call to heal the sick, comfort the suffering, and love one's neighbor.

Dr. Andrada is survived by, her beloved husband of nearly sixty years, Walfredo Andrada; her son, Anthony Andrada, daughter-in-law, Brenda Munoz, and their children, Kiana and Kazuo Andrada; her daughter, Annamarie A. Bryson, son-in-law, Gregory Bryson, and their sons, Maxwell and Vincent Bryson, and her two sisters, Mila Dajoyag and Gaynora Palos.

She also leaves behind countless relatives, dear friends, former colleagues, patients, students, prayer group members, and members of the military and medical communities whose lives were forever enriched by her kindness, wisdom, and unwavering compassion.

Dr. Nerizza P. Andrada lived a life of extraordinary purpose. She healed with skill, led with integrity, served with humility, and loved without reservation. Her legacy lives on not only in the family she cherished but also in the thousands of lives she touched and mentored through her dedication to medicine, military service, volunteerism, and faith.

Though our hearts are heavy with loss, we are profoundly grateful for the gift of her life. Her example will continue to inspire all who knew her to live with compassion, courage, generosity, and grace.

"Well done, good and faithful servant… Enter into the joy of your Lord."Matthew 25:23