Consuelo Pasion Arafiles' Obituary
CONSUELO PASION ARAFILES May 21, 1925 – May 20, 2018 CONSUELO PASION ARAFILES, “Mamang” to her children and “Connie” to her friends, passed away peacefully on the morning of Sunday, May 20, 2018 at her residence in Union City, CA. At that very moment, it was more than an hour into May 21, 2018 in the Philippines where she was born so it would be accurate to say, she was 93.In eternal rest she joins herHusband: Catalino P. ArafilesParents: Pablo and Tarcila (Cabagtan) PasionParents-in-Law: Gavino and Elena (Perez) ArafilesBrothers: Crispin, Joven and GaudencioSisters: Feliza P. Rativo, Felicitas P. Marquez, and Rosario P. ViloriaGrandson: Ruben Jr. She is survived by herYounger siblings: Lolita P. Guzman and Rodrigo C. PasionChildren, Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren:Virgilio and Francia (Mira) ArafilesMaria Angelica and Robert ReifVictor Andre Arafiles and Irene (Flores) ArafilesAnnie Victoria, Luke and JeffRuben Arafiles and Naia (Nancy) (Balbastro) ArafilesRebeccaMildred and Jesse ReyesCatalino and Lourdes (Martin) ArafilesFlorence Claribel and Ronny TsangAllison & Tomi CatalinaClarissaJaime and Evelyn (Calixto) ArafilesJimuelle and Stacey (Suriben) ArafilesJileny.Ferdinand (Dennis) and Kelly (Ball) ArafilesNadine Rose Born in the coastal town of Santiago, Ilocos Sur, Philippines, Consuelo in her early years enjoyed the white sands and peaceful waters of the cove of Sabangan nearby. As a teenager, she learned the art of dressmaking from her mother. Later she became adept at, and preferred, making long dresses and gowns. In the U.S. she would go on to get contracts for weddings (she made the wedding gowns for the brides of two of her sons). Presumably her best was for her only daughter, Mildred; Consuelo created a gorgeous wedding gown with matching gowns for the whole entourage. Later she branched out to making curtains custom-made to her clients’ home; this expanded her customer range in the latter years.When she finished high school in the province, Consuelo made her way to Manila. She enrolled in a secretarial course at the Philippine Normal College, but had to drop out without finishing the course. She did finish a cosmetology course in hair cutting and styling. When the Second World War broke out, Consuelo’s world would be getting a jolt too. Fleeing from Manila, she boarded a bus for the Ilocos. Seated beside her was a young man, Catalino, who was going home to Vigan, several towns north of Consuelo’s native Santiago. When Consuelo got down the bus upon reaching her hometown, Catalino got down too and went home with her, with the intention of asking her father for her hand. He did not rest until her father agreed, and then the two went on to Vigan. The union eventually produced six children, five boys and a girl. With two young boys in tow, the couple moved to Pasay City. Consuelo’s skills were, financially, a great help for the young family. She never had the luxury of having hired help, plus she was also taking on extra jobs of sewing dresses and trimming/curling hair of neighbors. She also had a small buy and sell business. She had developed into a very good cook, which was greatly appreciated by family and friends. Consuelo was central to the children’s coming to the U.S. She decided to go ahead and migrate on the strength of Virgilio’s petition even though her husband was loathe to leave government service in the Philippines. Catalino had risen to the post of a director at the Weather Bureau by then. All her efforts were amply rewarded. She came to the U.S. in 1977; the children were in the US by 1980. Except for the youngest who came when he was 12, all had graduated from college then. Dennis finished college here in the US. Her leisure hours were spent in gardening, planting vegetables and flowering plants especially orchids and roses. She loved painting too. When Western Electric Company launched a nationwide art painting contest among its employees, she won third place for an oil painting of flowers in a vase. Consuelo’s passing leaves a big hole in the hearts of her family. It is difficult to imagine life without “Mamang” at the center of their lives. FUNERAL SERVICES : CHAPEL OF THE CHIMES, MISSION CHAPEL32992 Mission Blvd.Hayward, CA 94544510-471-3363 VIEWING: June 1 & 2, 20185:00- 9:00 PM INTERMENT: June 3, 20189:00 – 12:00 AM LUNCH: TOMI SUSHI & SAFOOD BUFFET1604 Decoto Rd.Union City, CA
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