Conchita Villanueva Batayola

Conchita Villanueva Batayola passed away peacefully at the age of 94 in her home at 8:43am November 15, 2015.

As a devout Catholic, Conchita lived a wonderful and historic life. She was born in Alcala, Pangasinan Province, Philippines on September 19, 1921 to Andres Villanueva and Tecla (Donato) Villanueva and eventually married her one and only love, Felipe Lumapas Batayola on September 2, 1940. She is remembered by many as a loving, sweet, and generous person that loved to cook her delicious Filipino food for friends and family members.

1940s

During World War II, Conchita and Felipe suffered through desperate times in the Philippines. Separated, she and their very young children hid from the Japanese soldiers in the northern part of the Philippines while her husband defended the country as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army. During these difficult years, she would lose her second oldest son Romeo from starvation and her father Andres would perish as an American soldier in a Japanese POW camp. The ravage of war may have been etched in Conchita's mind, but it solidified her relationship with God. Through much anguish and prayers came opportunities towards the end of the war for her husband Felipe was recognized for his heroism in combat. His efforts earned him multiple ribbons and medals and the U.S. Presidential Unit Citation for gallantry three times. In return, he received back-pay for his un-paid services during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines until the return of General Douglas MacArthur. This back-pay would later pay for the purchase of the house in Quezon City, Philippines and the house that Conchita and Felipe would live in for the rest of their lives in the U.S.

1950s

From the hardship of the war, it seemed that many of Conchita's prayers were answered in this decade. Working as a team, Felipe earned a good living for the family being stationed in the United States serving in the then new U.S. Air Force while she took care of their growing family in the Philippines. On June 16, 1954, Conchita and Felipe renewed their wedding vows at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. With her renewed wedding vows, control of the family affairs in the Philippines, and her matriarchal spirit, Conchita built her house in Quezon City, raised their children, and managed most of the family's financial affairs throughout the baby boom years. By the end of the 50s, they had seven children.

1960s

In the 1960s, Conchita's life would again change. With some persuasion from Felipe's sister Filomena, Conchita and Felipe moved their family to the United States. Because of relatives living around the Puget Sound area, Seattle, Washington was the city that was chosen to move to over Hawaii and San Francisco, California. The rest of Felipe's back pay from the war was used to purchase the home in Seattle that she eventually lived in for 55 years. Hardship would come into her life again in the 60's in the form of racial discrimination, the Vietnam War, and managing the family affairs in a new country.

When purchasing their home in the Wallingford district of Seattle, most of the neighbors signed a petition that prohibited them from moving in because of their race. Fortunately, two of the neighbors did not sign it, thus overruling the petition. The discrimination of the Civil Rights era was felt by many of the family members in later years, but as time passed, the bigotry subsided as neighbors moved on or passed away. As for Conchita, she eventually outlived them all and became a lifelong contributing member of the Wallingford community and her local church of St. Benedict.

As the Vietnam conflict escalated, one by one, six of her sons would serve in the U.S. military. Some of her sons went to Vietnam, some did not; some of them did not come home the same way. Fortunately, all would survive the ordeal.

As difficult it was for Conchita to manage the family affairs in a new country, her prayers would carry her through the 60s; she would give birth to three more children totaling nine boys and one girl. With Felipe, they became active members of the Filipino Community, the Bataan Corregidor Survivors' Association (BCSA), and a lifelong member of St. Benedict Catholic Church. By 1969, her roots were permanently planted in Seattle. The family grew with the addition of Felipe's brother Luis who moved into Seattle with his wife and three children.

1970s-1980s

In the 1970s through the 80s, many of her children earned college degrees and went on with successful careers; some had successful careers without it. Her family grew with sons marrying and having their own children. She would study and become a U.S. citizen in the 1980s so that she could help get her brother and sister to America. She would perfect her hobbies in knitting, sewing, crocheting, and cooking. Crocheting in particular had been a hobby she had most of her adult life and she made beautiful intricate large table clothes for her children; she also crocheted many other items such as hats and scarves. Knitting was a hobby that was acquired from one of her daughter-in-laws; a hobby she continued for the rest of her life. In recent years, she made beautifully designed wristbands out of Seahawks colors. With help from her daughter, she donated many of them to good causes and loved ones. In 1985, the now popular Great Wallingford Wurst Festival had its beginnings with volunteers like Conchita. She donated her homemade lumpias (Filipino egg rolls) for the church to sell at the festival.

She would become a seamstress at Demetre Sweater Company retiring in the late 1980s and Felipe would continue his employment at Boeing until his retirement in the early 1980s.

1990s - Present

The 1990s through the present was Conchita's retirement years. In 1991, another of her prayers was answered when her sister Benedicta and husband Bonifacio moved to the United States; the first of her family side to come to the States. Unfortunately, her brother Mariano and wife Coring was not able to come due to health reasons. She lost her son Donaldo in 1994 and her husband Felipe passed away in 1996. She became a member of International Drop-In Center (IDIC), and the Filipino American Widows of WA (FAWOW). In 2011, she would lose another son Ernesto in 2011 and in 2015; she would lose her daughter-in-law Karen from natural causes.

Conchita was preceded in death by her Husband Felipe, her sons Donaldo and Ernesto, her siblings: Trinidad, Federico pedring, Mariano, Benedicta Mining, Vicente, and Angel. She will forever be remembered by her eight living children: Evaristo (Carmelita), Raul (Karen {deceased}), Renato (Pamela), Felipe (Nancy), Arthur (Dasha), Reuel (Sheree), Betty, and Benjamin (Lynn); 22 grandchildren: Charles (Christy), Edgar, Rebecca, Paulette, Matthew, Angela (Greg), Michael, Eric (Akiko), Krista (Michael), Jessica, Kim, Sara, Kristopher (Veronica), Brianne (Scotty), Corey (Jenny); and 18 great grandchildren.

A rosary will be held on Friday, December 4, 2015 at St. Benedict Catholic Church. Church will open at 6:00pm for viewing; Rosary will start at 7:00pm. Afterwards, there will be time to share any tributes or memories of Conchita.

Mass will be on December 5, 2015 at 12pm at St. Benedict Catholic Church. Burial proceedings will immediately follow at Evergreen Washelli, and then reception will follow at St. Benedict Catholic Church school cafeteria.

St. Benedict Catholic Church

1805 North 49th Street

Seattle, WA 98103

Evergreen Washelli

11111 Aurora Ave North

Seattle, WA 98133

Words of comfort may be expressed for Conchita Batayola's family by clicking on the guestbook link to the right.