Josefa A. Nocete

Josefa Simblante Almendra Nocete was born in Abuyog, Leyte, Philippines on August 27, 1927, and the third of seven children. She and her siblings had tough early lives, but they were all able to rise above it. Her mother disappeared from the family of 7 children when they were still small (her whereabouts are not known until today). Later their father died a few years later. Consequently, the children grew up amongst relatives. Mama grew up in a convent together with one of her siblings. To survive this she developed an indomitable spirit.

.......from Susan Ordona, eldest daughter:

I got to know my Mom really well when she came to the United States in 1987. She was a welcome addition to our family. Our one and only child Andrew was just 2 years old and became the apple of her eyes. Andrew and her became very close, with no lack of love between them. She would always light up whenever Andrew was around. Andrew was always the one who would make her Grandma smile under any circumstances.

While Andrew was growing up, my Mom needed something else to do to channel her time especially when my son started school. So she found a job at a high end health spa, The Optimum Health Institute, working in the food preparation department. She was so good, very thorough, knowing all the details of preparing and presenting raw foods at their best. She was very well liked and popular to her co-workers and the institute’s guests. She continued to work there until the time when she got very sick years later.

My Mom’s love of food was contagious. She was a very very good cook. I am so biased; she made the best pancit in the whole world. She could whip up her favorite Filipino dishes in a heartbeat.....fast worker!

She was very strong willed, but beneath that strong persona, was a gentle soul. She had the biggest of hearts that only a few know. I will remember my Mom with so much love and the greatest gratitude....for being so proud and loving to my husband, Roger and overfilling her love for my son, Andrew.

Thank you, Mama. Your story is where mine begins.

......from Chris Ann, second daughter:

Just to remember my Mom as a very kind, warm hearted human being....

'There are so many fond memories I can write about my mama, one in particular is her love for dogs. I remember an aunt who bred dogs (half poodle half Chihuahua). My mom had been asking her if she can have one but was turned down a few times. Later on, my aunt gave an invalid and ugly, in other words a reject dog, to my Mom, who named it loulid (meaning invalid).

It didn’t matter to her that the dog was not a perfect one; she took care and loved the dog so much anyway.

Mama was a loving wife to the late (Papa) Eduardo Nocete. Together they had three wonderful children, Louie George, ChrisAnn and Charles. With their many many years of stay in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Mama learned how to speak Malayan and was very cultured as she assimilated very well with the Malayan and Filipino people and the Americans at the company where Papa was a Maintenance Superintendent.

In her lifetime, Mama had so many friends but one friendship that stood out, is her friendship with Steve Freeman. Steve was always there for her for the whole 21 years that they’d been friends. And he was there until the very end.

We couldn’t thank Steve enough. He was there for my Mom when we couldn’t be there at times. He was always on top of everything when it came to Mom’s healthcare, doctors’ visits, numerous hospitalizations, trips to ER, and even 911 dashes.

Mama will be missed by so many friends and relatives, mostly by her loving family......son Charles, daughter-in-law Hope, grandchildren, CM and Jefsy; daughter ChrisAnn, son-in-law Paul Featherstone, and grandchild Isabelle; son Louie George and grandchild, Lu-Edward; daughter Susan, son-in-law Roger Ordona and the apple of her eye, Andrew, and her best friend forever, Steve Freeman.

Mama touched so many hearts in her own little ways. We are all so blessed and grateful forever.