To Librada L. Lavarias, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, she was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around her, she seemed to be eternally happy, and she willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life she touched. For Librada, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, she could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Librada really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.
Librada was born on December 18, 1918 in Binmaley, Pangasinan, Philippines. Her parents were Urbano and Maria lavarias. Librada was raised in Pangasinan, Philippines. Even as a child, Librada had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around her. She was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. She couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. She was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, she succeeded in entertaining her entire family.
Always a good playmate, Librada was easygoing and fun loving. She managed to lighten the mood wherever she was, even during family squabbles. She seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Librada managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Librada was raised with seven siblings named Lamberto, Dionisio, Marcelina, Felisisima and Jose.
All of Librada's playful good humor carried over into her childhood. She was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed her to be constantly on the go. As a result, Librada experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited her very well. She took part in basketball and was also a Scout member. In her spare time she liked to read books. Librada's memorable achievements included Spelling and Math.
Ask anyone who knew her from school and they would tell you that Librada was a class “cut-up.” She didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Librada simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of her friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Librada, grades may not have been the most important thing to her, but she really did enjoy her school experience. Since experience was Librada's best teacher. She enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Librada graduated from Provincial High School in 1934. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was Math and English.
Librada never actually encountered a stranger in her dealings with people. She was drawn to individuals and crowds, using her gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate her audience. This quality allowed Librada to continually develop new relationships, ever widening her circle of friends. Librada delighted in her role among all her acquaintances, because she viewed them all as potential spectators for her performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Librada was always right at home putting on a show among her friends. Librada utilized her interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, some of her best friends were her sisters and cousins. Librada loved sharing life and having her home filled with people she knew.
The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Librada very easy to approach. In December 1936, Librada exchange wedding vows with Federico Lavarias at the Seniora Purificacion Parish Church in Binmaley, Pangasinan, Philippines. She tried hard not to impose on her spouse. She was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.
Perhaps the reason Librada related so well to children was the fact that she never really completely grew up herself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped her in raising her own children. Librada was blessed with nine children, seven sons, Agripino, Rolando, Carlos, Alfredo, Elpidio, Federico, Manuel, and two daughters, Remedios and Susan. She was also blessed with thirty grandchildren, Dan, Darmin, Maria Liza, Jemma, Romeo, Loraine, Richard, Allan, Arlyn, Arnel, Rowena, Rosalyn, Ronald, Walter, Gerald, Mijca, Mejcris, Jonathan, Rey, Ryan, Rodel, Emmanuel, Christi Mae, Jahmel, Janice, Jon-Jon, Lei Marganx, Charles, Gemma, and Renz. Librada had the ability to focus her attention on the present moment. If she was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of her attention was directed. Librada's compassionate side prevented her from being a strict disciplinarian, and she could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. She could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Librada had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.
At work, as in life, Librada was a real “people person.” She had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and her enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Librada liked to see herself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Librada was an adaptable realist, using her common sense and trusting her experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Librada's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around her to see Librada as an excellent problem solver. Her primary occupation was as a housewife.
Librada enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Librada liked creating and making things. Her favorite pursuits were dancing. Librada was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.
Librada felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if she wasn’t the best, Librada loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Librada relished the opportunities where she could make an impact, and she would often push herself to play above her abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Librada never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. Librada was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list were basketball.
A generous person who often wore her heart on her sleeve, Librada often found herself involved in activities she deemed important. She was charitable, kind and giving, qualities that made her a natural volunteer. Outspoken in her beliefs, yet tactful in her dealings with others, Librada was a member of several community groups, serving on committees for the Filipino Women's Club. Politically, Librada was a strong supporter of the Democratic Party.
Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Librada recognized that her faith was important to her throughout her life. She was a member of the Catholic faith. During that time, she was a church volunteer.
Naturally outgoing and generous, Librada was regularly doing things for others. For her, the gift of giving to others was second nature. Though she never set out to gain individual recognition, Librada was given accolades for her many and varied accomplishments throughout her life. Some of her most prestigious awards included being voted Miss Binmaley in the Philippines.
Living life in the fast lane suited Librada just fine. It is no surprise that she loved to travel and to visit new and different places. She was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. She was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included going back to the Philippines.
Librada believed that you had to experience life, and her life in retirement was no different. Her new life involved relocating to the United States. With her boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Librada remained busy with people and projects. In retirement, she found new pleasure in volunteering at the Senior Citizen Community Center. Even in retirement, Librada continued to stay in touch with her old friends and, since she'd never met a stranger, she made plenty of new acquaintances as well.
Librada passed away on April 21, 2012 in Tracy, California. She is survived by her children and grandchildren. Services were held at St. Frances Cabrini Church in San Jose, California. Librada was laid to rest in Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose, California.
Librada brought joy to all of those around her. She never had a mean bone in her body. She loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. She loved to share her energy, wit, and her zest for all of her activities with her friends and family. Librada L. Lavarias lived life to its fullest and made everyone around her happier just for knowing her. She will be remembered with a smile.
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