Rufina Samaniego Elias' Obituary
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7
RUFINA IGNACIO SAMANIEGO ELIAS | 16 November 1940 – 7 July 2021
Oh Mommy! With you there was never a dull moment. You were sometimes impossible but always lovable.
No wonder, Daddy was bewondered, on rare occasions bewildered, by you. You met each other at the Luneta Park literally by accident. You bumped with your car into the park’s properties. A dashing young officer appeared before you, quite concerned.
Instead of being apologetic for damaging public property, you fiercely quarreled with him. A shock reaction? Who knows. He jailed you. You had no money for the bail. Daddy took pity on you and bailed you out. For life. This led to a marriage of more than 30 years. “Till death do us part.”
You were brave and strong willed, just like Daddy. We travelled a lot and had unforgettable adventures. Genuinely interested in others, you found a way to connect with people everywhere we went. You radiated beauty inside and out. You never really could stay angry at anyone, certainly not with us. One look into your eyes and we knew all was forgiven.
Food was your expression of love and care. “Kumain na ba kayo?” “Did you eat already?” This was the first thing that you would ask anyone who came into our home. You would prepare a meal for everyone regardless of the time of day or night. You would wake up at 4:00 a.m. to cook for us. You would travel 8 hours just to buy that one special pan de sal that we should absolutely taste. Distance and time did not matter to you when it came to getting the right ingredients and preparing dishes with that full well-balanced delicious taste that only you could cook for us. You made sure that there was always food on the table. Everyone was welcome to eat with us. Our friends felt that they had a mother in you, even though you met them only on a few occasions. You provided for us all even when you were sick and we already have our own families. Rain or shine, you went around to bring food and other goodies to us your children and to your grandchildren. “Ang anak, pakakainin mo mula pagkasilang hanggang kamatayan,” you said. And that’s exactly what you did and continue to do.
Family was everything. You made it a point to visit our relatives in far flung places. You travelled several times literally around the world to be with us in Europe, the US and the Philippines. We stayed together no matter what. Daddy had a stroke and became bedridden. You devotedly and lovingly took care of him for more than 13 years. You took care of us, too. You bore the unbearable without complains, gave us the best you could and shielded us as much as possible from hardships. Your faith in God was unwavering. “Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa.”
You loved life with all its pain and joys. “You have only one life,” you said. “Fight for it.” And fight you did to the end, for us.
How you lived life continues to strengthen us. Your unconditional love shaped us to be the person that we have become.
Thank you Mommy. We love and miss you. Deeply.
Love always,
Your children Gigi & Mori, Lyzel & Léon, Biboy & Rowena, Mitzi & Adam, Ian & Kristel
Your grandchildren Cherie & Chad, Gotchi, Simoun, Caira, Mackie, Gabby, Bentot, Leonardus, Kenzo & Deinzel
Your great grandchildren Sloan & Rhys
Known to many by her nickname “Baby”, Mommy was born in Manila, Philippines on 16 November 1940 to Salud Policarpio Ignacio and Ceferino Samaniego. She was the eldest of four children. She worked as a medical technologist, and managed her own real estate properties and medical business. Her will was stronger than her body. Despite her lingering illness, she kept her spirits high.
On 7 July 2021, in the presence of her daughter, she reunited with her husband our dad, Col. Benjamin P. Elias, her son Edgar, and her grandchildren Gabriëlla & Julian, Alanze, Ruben whom she named after herself and our dad, and Kenza.
Mommy was a devout Roman Catholic. A rosary will be held during the visitation on 4 August 2021 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Chapel of the Chimes Cathedral. The vigil will be on 5 August 2021 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The farewell mass is on 6 August 2021 at 12 noon. This will be followed by the Rite of Committal and entombment at the Chapel of the Chimes Mausoleum.
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