Josefina Magwili Mendez's Obituary
Josefina Magwili Mendez passed away peacefully, surrounded by her children, on Friday, February 17, 2017 in Union City, California at the age of 85. She was the beloved wife of 42 years to the late Estelito Ilustre Mendez, Sr. Loving mother to Estelito I. Mendez, Jr., Josie M. Casañas and Jeffrey M. Mendez. Mother in-law to Leslie S. Mendez, Louie S. Casañas and Renee D. Mendez. Cherished grandmother to Jacob, Katherine, Matthew, Ariana and Kellyn Mendez, and Nicolas and Linus Casañas. Daughter of the late Eufrocina Vilarosa Magwili and Santos Delauso Magwili. Sister of the late Agripino V. Magwili, Remedios M. Ramos, Nicanor V. Magwili, and Delfin V. Magwili. She is also survived by sisters Loreta M. Parulan and Critsteta M. Martinez, brother in-law Lino G. Parulan, and sisters in-law Mapalad G. Magwili and Antonia T. Magwili and numerous nieces and nephews. Also known as Pining or Penny, she was born on November 27, 1931 in Tanay, Rizal, Philippines; the second oldest of seven children. After graduating from the University of the East in Manila, she returned to Tanay to the Sierra Madre Institute where she was a beloved and respected teacher of Filipino to the first and second year high school students. After teaching for a number of years, Penny emigrated to the United States after being granted a student visa. Ever the story teller, Penny loved to recount the night that her Prince Charming, Estelito, swept her off her feet at a Christmas party in the Bay Area. They were inseparable during the following weeks and were married on December 30, 1962 in a chapel in Reno, Nevada. They settled down in New Orleans, Louisiana to start their family. Family was Penny’s priority and she worked tirelessly to bring her mother, brothers, sisters and their families from the Philippines to the United States. She opened her home to her family and it would be the first stopping point for each new arrival. Penny also worked hard to ensure that her children would receive a proper education. A priority and expectation that her children knew all too well growing up. For most of the 1960’s and 70’s, she worked as a talented seamstress in the tailor shop of the Sears and Roebuck’s department store in Central Business District of New Orleans. When the Sears store closed, Penny continued to work in retail working in a number of souvenir shops in the French Quarter. She loved interacting with the tourists, especially during Mardi Gras and the Super Bowl. Penny loved attending social gatherings where she made sure to surround herself with joyful family and friends. She had a passion for life and simply wanted everyone to be cheerful. She was always telling everyone to “smile and be happy!”
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