Lourdes “Ludy” Guerrero Dancel, 76, of San Antonio, Texas took her journey into heaven on November 20, 2020 after a valiant battle with cancer. Her love of her family, firm belief in God and devotion to Mother Mary supported her in her struggle and ultimately gave her peace.
Lourdes was born to the late Godofredo Guerrero and Carolina Dichoso, in Dingras, Ilocos Norte, Philippines on May 7, 1944. She was immersed in the Catholic community from an early age that would be her lifelong support. She graduated as a nurse from St. Rita School of Nursing in Manila, Philippines and in September 1967, she took the opportunity to come to the United States as an exchange visitor nurse and braved working in Newark City Hospital, Newark, NJ during the civil rights movement, and eventually moved on to work at Michael Reese Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois in October 1968.
Lourdes returned to the Philippines in May 1970 and would eventually lead to her marriage to her college sweetheart, Wendell, from her hometown of Dingras on May 8, 1971. She blessed him with five loving children and raised them with husband Wendell with patience, discipline, and humility. The family became complete with the birth of their youngest on June 20, 1978. She balanced family life and obligations with her professional life as a nurse in Dona Josefa Edralin Marcos District Hospital, Marcos, Ilocos Norte, as a staff nurse from August 1973 - January 1975 and as the chief nurse from February 1975 - October 1988. During her tenure as the chief nurse, she adopted Marcos as her second hometown and was passionate about the community, helping set-up the Barangay Health Workers and coordinate functions of the hospital with the Rural Health Clinics. She resigned from her position in 1988 so she can make the motherly sacrifice of leaving her family to come to the United States for work so she and husband Wendell can better provide for their children. She landed in Chicago, Illinois but eventually went to New Jersey and worked as a nurse in Dewitt Nursing Home, New York, New York from 1988 - 1990. She did private duty work afterwards until her efforts were rewarded in October 1993, at which time her family became united again residing in Jersey City, New Jersey. Work led her to Hudson Milestones Group Home in Jersey City, New Jersey as a residential counselor where she worked from 1992 - 1998, then she transferred to St. Joseph Group Home in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1998 until she retired in 2007. She and husband Wendell instilled the importance of education, good work ethic, and faith in God to their children. She and Wendell became a part-time Texan in 2006 when the family purchased a second home in San Antonio, and eventually moved permanently to be closer to their grandchildren in October 2018.
Lourdes was passionate about service to her family, her friends, work family, and even new acquaintances. She would take the time to get to know you and offer her heart to you, planting the seed for the love she would get back from many. She was frugal as many Ilocanos are but generous to share her blessings, a characteristic treasured by everyone whose lives she touched. Passions she shared with her family are faith and religion, love for gardening flowering plants and growing her own vegetables, love for travel and time spent with family and friends near and far. One way she would mother people she meets is through her cooking, making sure her dishes made with loving care are shared by everyone. She is dearly missed by her loved ones and friends, who celebrate the fact that she is at peace now with The Lord, Our God.
Lourdes is survived in death by her husband, Wendell A. Dancel, and their five children: Lowelyn Dancel Chua (husband Anthony Chua), Wendell Dancel II, Caroline Dancel-Garcia, Mayflor Dancel, Wendell Dancel III (husband Mark Burton), grandchildren Ruben Garcia, Junard and Alex Chua, and Javi, Lincoln & Logan Burton Dancel, sisters Lilia Oalog, Teresita Munoz, Marlene Nicolas, Imelda Guerrero, Marvie Tolentino, Jocelyn Pagaduan, Marie Dulce Manibog, and brother Godolino Guerrero. She is preceded in death by her parents Godofredo and Carolina, and brothers Henry, Renato and Glenn.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.5