Pacita was born on December 8, 1925, in Puʻunene, Maui, Hawaii to her late parents Simeon Queja Madriaga and Marcela Molina Madriaga.
Pacita was a hard worker. She worked at Maui Land & Pine for 20 years as a pineapple picker and trimmer. She also worked as a prep cook for 10 years at Aloha Restaurant. Aside from working, she was a wife and mother to her 10 children.
Pacita loved sewing, cooking, gardening and spending time with all her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her favorite pastime is hitting the slot machines in her yearly trips to Las Vegas.
Pacita was a wonderful and strong woman who was deeply loved by her family, friends and all who had a privilege of knowing her. She will be remembered for her loving and generous heart, kindness, steadfast faith, the joys she brought to those around her and most of all, her devotion to her family. She was a proud wife, mother and grandmother whose love and influence will continue to live on through her children.
Pacita is predeceased by her husband, Santos Tagalan and daughters Patricia (Alex) Calpo and Susana (Edison) Bacay. She is survived by her daughters, Florentina (Frank) Cabral, Editha Padilla, Ofelia (Jeff) Ota, Helen (Luther) Kanae and sons Bernard (Anne) Tagalan, Fidel (Darlene) Tagalan, Nelson (Kathie) Tagalan, and Bryan (Relly) Tagalan.
Pacita’s love flourished through her family, giving her 26 grandchildren, 48 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be at Norman’s Mortuary on Thursday, September 17, 2026, Public Viewing at 6:00 p.m. and Service at 7:30 p.m. 2nd Day Service will continue at Norman’s Mortuary on Friday, September 18, 2026, Public Viewing at 9:00 a.m. and Service at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. at Valley Isle Memorial Park in Haiku.
The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to Hospice Maui (Dr. Chad Farmer, Nurses, CNA’s, Spiritual Chaplains, Social Workers and Staff), Hale Mahaolu CNA’s, Alzheimer’s Association Maui, Luisa Ogawa, NP and Dr. Anne Yoshizawa from Kaiser Permanente, and Maui County Office on Aging/Kaunoa Meals.
