Our Heavenly Father, in His infinite wisdom and divine love, called Carmencita Leaño de la Cruz to her eternal
rest after sunrise of May 16, 2020. Carmencita was born on February 4, 1925 in Manila, Philippines.
Affectionately known as “Chita,” she was the eldest of eleven children born to the late Carlos Molina Leaño and
Carmen Azores Concordia, with eight of her brothers and sisters preceding her in death.
Chita met Mariano Bautista de la Cruz while she was in college, and married him 5 years later on January 2,
1950 at the University of Santo Tomás Chapel in Manila. They were blessed with five sons and five daughters.
They immigrated to the United States with 9 of their 10 children in January of 1971. She and her family called
San Francisco home for 17 years; and then she and her husband moved to Santa Clara, CA in June of 1988
after Mariano’s retirement to be closer to their grandchildren. Mariano and Chita loved to travel, and shared
their lives for 49 years until his death on January 7, 1999.
Chita’s determination, education, career, beliefs, and love of music helped shape her character to be the
wonderful mom, “Lola” or grandmother, and great-grandmother that she was. She was an excellent student and
believed that education was very important; and that it provided a means for achieving a person’s dreams. Her
professional life included teaching English and Accounting in Manila, Accounting and Piano at the Santa Clara
Adult School until the age of 85, and worked as an accountant at Mission Housing Development Corporation in
San Francisco. She was a member and an officer of several associations and organizations, both in the
Philippines and in Northern California.
Chita dedicated her life to God, and was involved in various church auxiliaries and fund-raisers. Whether it was
in San Francisco or in Santa Clara, she was a faithful and active member of St. Peter’s Church and St. Justin
Parish respectively, and served as a Lector at both churches. She and Mariano were the driving force in
establishing the Filipino Club at St. Peter’s Church in 1973, promoting cultural awareness through various social
events and orchestrating the traditional Filipino devotion and celebration, Flores de Mayo.
Chita had an incredible passion for music and instilled that same passion into her children. Her love of music
helped her develop into an accomplished multi-instrumentalist; she played the piano, organ, marimba, and
several Philippine folk instruments. She was a huge fan of the “Sound of Music,” which she emulated and
formed the family rondalla with all her children playing as a unit through her late 80’s. They performed at
various events and places throughout the years, both in the Philippines and in California, including the FilipinoAmerican Friendship Week Celebration on June 30 – July 4, 1973, which was televised on KQED Channel 9.
She lived up to her favorite saying, “The family that plays together stays together.”
Chita loved her family unconditionally, and loved helping others, especially those around her. She loved life and
everyone she met, and always had a smile on her face. When she played the piano, it brought joy to those who
were listening. With her quiet resolve and graceful demeanor, she somehow touched the lives of all those with
whom she came in contact.
Chita leaves to cherish her precious memory her children: Renato Lucino de la Cruz (Anita Fe) of Danville, CA;
Florian Carlos “Roy” de la Cruz (Relinda) of Pasay City, Philippines; Mariano Bartolome de la Cruz (Ligaya) of
Danville, CA; Carmen Constancia de la Cruz Oshima (James) of Richmond, CA; Nelia Iluminada de la CruzChavez (Salvador) of Santa Clara, CA; Maria Teresa de la Cruz Subijana (Joseph) of Redwood City, CA; Grace
Cristina de la Cruz Torres (John) of Gilroy, CA; Maria Elena de la Cruz of San Jose, CA; Tomás Alfonso de la
Cruz (Scott Carpenter) of Jersey City, NJ; and Adriano Manuel de la Cruz of San Francisco, CA; 22
grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren and 1 soon-to-be great-grandchild; sisters: Consuelo Leaño Alcantara of
El Sobrante, CA and Milagros Leaño Reyes of Fairview, Quezon City, Philippines; extended siblings: Carlos
“Charles” Indaya Leaño III (Loida) of Vancouver, BC Canada; John Indaya Leaño (Dolores) of Pangasinan,
Philippines; Robert Indaya Leaño (Ellenita) of General Trías, Cavite, Philippines; and Cheryl Leaño Aching
(Jeffrey) of Vancouver, BC Canada; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other close relatives, and dear
friends.
Our hearts may be saddened for the loss of one so dear to us, but she is now in the presence of the Lord and
those who preceded her!
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