Loreta Shauf's Obituary
Loreta Sibal Shauf passed away peacefully in her
sleep to reunite with her husband, Norman Manuson
Shauf (July 4, 1921-March 25, 1989) on February 23,
2022.
Loreta was born to the late Bruno Megia Sibal and
Hermogena Manipon, a morse code translator and
homemaker, in Bamban, Tarlac, Philippines on
November 17, 1922. Loreta was the middle of six
siblings, Benjamin, a doctor born 1918; Wilson, an
electrical engineer born 1920; Loreta, a school teacher;
Robert, a chemist born 1924; Luz, a school teacher born
1926 and Nonoy a chemist born 1929. Loreta attended
The University of Santo Tomas Catholic School in Home
Economics.
Loreta at 16 years old, grew up quickly to manage
the family when her mother died due to hemorrhaging.
She was known to be the fastest runner in her baseball
team. She loved to dance the boogie woogie, jitterbug
and rumba tango.
She taught 2nd grade students how to read English at Bamban Elementary School, but the Japanese
didn’t like her because of this subject so she stopped teaching English and soon married Norman and
moved to the mountains to get away from the Japanese.
Loreta raised four children, Evelyn born 1946, Jennie born 1949, Susan born 1952 and Norman born
in the United States 1961. She lost their first child when she was seven months along because she
contracted malaria and was given quinine.
Loreta was very independent, for example when she was learning to drive, because Norman and her
would argue while learning to drive so she would get up at midnight and drive alone to teach herself
how to drive. Loreta stood up for herself and was known to be a strong opinionated woman.
Loreta was known to cling to her purse every where and would hear her say constantly “Where’s my
bag”. Loreta also cared for her children and always made sure they had plenty to eat and would
generously give food to take home. One of her famous words are “Did you eat?”, “You better drink
milk!”. She also protected them from the evil world, by overly restricting them from the freedom to find
adventure on their own.
Loreta was a good cook. She loved to make Palabok, Paksiw, Adobo, and Diniguan as her favorite
meal with plenty of rice as she describes it.
Loreta was hired by the Social Security Administration because she was a fast typist because she
played the piano at a young age along with her siblings that also played piano at home. After she retired
from SSA, she and Norman moved to Sun Valley, NV and worked at Cal-Neva Casino.
Loreta is survived her children: Evelyn Shauf Gromadski, Jennifer Shauf Dermont, Susan Sibal Shauf,
Norman Shauf Jr. Her grandchildren, Roland Tuazon, Gregory Matawaran, Lisa Shauf Cole, Kevin Craig
Shauf and Michael Shauf and great grandchildren: Reese Tuazon, Hayden and Jordan Matawaran, and
Nathan and Olivia Cole.
Her last words as she laid on her bed was “Norman, I love you” and of course “Palabok”.
What’s your fondest memory of Loreta?
What’s a lesson you learned from Loreta?
Share a story where Loreta's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Loreta you’ll never forget.
How did Loreta make you smile?