Teofila "Fely" Baldemor Reinders

Teofila “Fely” Baldemor Reinders was born on December 28, 1944, in Paete, Laguna, Philippines, to Santos Baldemor and Rosario Adao. She completed her elementary education at Paete Central Elementary School and high school at Eastern Laguna College. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Philippine Normal College in Manila.

Fely began her career as an elementary school teacher in Calamba, Laguna. In 1968, she went to Vietnam, where she worked as Joseph “Joe” Dressler’s secretary. It was there that she met Joe, who would become her first husband. They were married on December 11, 1968.

After the fall of Saigon, Joe took on consulting jobs in neighboring Asian countries, with Fely by his side. Eventually, they returned to the United States and settled in Stockton, California in the early 1970’s. Fely worked for TransAmerica in Stockton for several years and later worked in medical claims for a health insurance company. In the late 1990’s, Joe and Fely decided to move to Southern California. They sold their Stockton home and bought a condo in Signal Hill, CA. Joe passed away in August 2001.

A few years later, Fely met her second husband Donald “Don” Reinders. They married on March 10, 2006. She became a medical claims auditor for different health insurance companies including Inland Empire Health Plan.

Fely stayed connected to her Filipino roots and became active with the Paete Association, reconnecting with former friends and fellow townmates from Paete.

In 2021, Fely was diagnosed with breast cancer, underwent treatment and became a breast cancer survivor.

Following Don’s passing on July 12, 2025, Fely moved to an assisted living facility in Stockton, California in August 2025 to be closer to her family, where she participated in family gatherings.

In mid-August 2026, Fely became seriously ill and was hospitalized. Doctors discovered that her breast cancer had metastasized to her vertebrae and stomach. According to Fely, she was not in pain. She passed peacefully in the morning of September 2, 2026.

Fely will be lovingly remembered by her siblings Danny, Judy, Doris, and Flor; her many nephews and nieces, her friend Pat Ong, and her extended family and friends, especially Ella, Carina, Gloria, Jun, and Aron of Paete, Laguna, Philippines.

Fun Fact and Special Memories

Fely had a mischievous side from an early age. When she was in grade school, she sometimes stayed at school longer than necessary to avoid doing household chores! When she had an argument with one of her classmates, she would make sure that the classmate knew that they were not welcome to walk in front of Fely’s house.

Fely had a group of friends from her elementary days called, “Mariposa”, a group of pretty and smart girls.

Fely enjoyed sewing and was very skilled at it. She made three-piece pant suits for Judy and Doris when they first arrived from the Philippines in 1976. She also made her own curtains for her condo in Signal Hill and home in Covina.

But perhaps one of the things Fely was best known for in the family was her CHEESECAKE!

Fely’s cheesecakes were a favorite at family gatherings and were highly anticipated and sought by everyone. When Joe and Fely moved to Southern California, one of the running family jokes was that the relatives in Northern California would miss Fely’s cheesecake more than anything else. There was a time when Fely prepared cheesecakes and brought them to a family party in the Bay Area by bus and train.

It was quite an undertaking; her family told her not to do that again. The next time she attended a family gathering, she brought her cheesecake pans and decided to make the cheesecakes right there in Stockton. What a trouper! That’s why she was deeply loved!

Her nephews and nieces will especially remember her fondly as their generous Auntie Fely, always remembering and gifting them “big bucks” on their birthdays and Christmas.