Hello everyone! This GofundMe was made to help raise money for my Grandmas funeral expenses that my cousins and my parents and Grandpa have been paying for. This will help support our families with some of the funeral expenses. Anything helps and we are forever grateful for everyone love and support.

Below is some information about our beloved Grandma, please feel free to read and get to know her!

Emelita was born on May 18th, 1952, in Codoog, Narvacan, Philippines. Her life began in a small village rich in faith, tradition, and community. From the very beginning, she carried a quiet strength. Even as a young girl, she had a heart grounded in service, a spirit built for endurance, and a soul meant to uplift others. Her kindness was never loud. Her strength was never boastful. But those who knew her understood the depth of both.

She immigrated to the United States with the courage that only love can produce, love for her family, love for their future, and love for the life she dreamed of building. In a country foreign and unfamiliar, Emelita remained deeply rooted in who she was. She earned her associate’s degree and began her long and humble career in public service. For more than twenty years, she served as a California State employee, giving every task the dignity it deserved. Her work was steady, consistent, and filled with integrity. She never worked for recognition. She worked out of commitment, out of discipline, and out of care.

After more than two decades of faithful service, she retired from her public role. But her greatest work was never found behind a desk. It was found in the home she built. In the people she raised. In the countless lives she touched by simply showing up, day after day, in quiet and enduring love.

She was a devoted wife and a deeply loving mother. Her two sons answered the call to military service. One in the United States Army. The other in the United States Air Force. Between them, they served this country for over forty years. But their truest foundation was not built in boot camp. It was built at home. It was built in the presence of a mother who taught through action. A mother who showed what sacrifice looked like. A mother who stayed strong through every deployment, every separation, every hardship, and every prayer whispered into the night.

She was the proud grandmother of five beautiful grandchildren. Her love for them was pure and boundless. She made each one feel like the most important child in the world. Her hugs were soft and warm. Her voice brought comfort. Her laugh made everything feel safe again. She was their guardian angel long before she earned her wings.

Emelita was also a devoted sister to her two brothers. Though miles and time passed, her love for them never faded. Her relationships were never transactional. They were spiritual. She understood that connection was not maintained by words alone but by action, by loyalty, and by never giving up on family.

Her kitchen was her sanctuary. Her love language was food. And she spoke it fluently. She could feed a family of five or fifty and still make every dish feel like it was made just for you. Garlic sizzling in the pan, rice gently steaming, the scent of simmering soup filling the house, these were not just meals. These were her expressions of devotion. They were her way of saying, "I love you," without ever needing to say the words.

She also loved her garden. Her hands brought beauty into bloom. She tended to her plants with the same patience and love that she offered everyone in her life. She believed in nurturing. In starting with something small and growing it into something full of life. Her garden was not a hobby. It was a mirror of who she was.

Her Catholic faith was the compass by which she lived her life. She did not just attend church. She served in it. She lived the Gospel. She volunteered to read scripture at Mass, and when she stood before the congregation, her voice was steady, clear, and filled with quiet authority. She did not recite scripture. She believed it. And because she believed it, those who listened did too.

Emelita was also a gifted public speaker. It was a part of her that many admired. She carried herself with grace and composure, yet spoke with clarity, wisdom, and conviction. Whether she was reading from scripture or sharing words of encouragement, her voice brought calm to the room. She took pride in her ability to communicate, not because it gave her attention, but because it allowed her to comfort and uplift others. Her voice carried warmth. It carried truth. And it carried people through their own moments of doubt and pain.

She gave without asking. She forgave without condition. She loved without limits. She never asked for recognition. She never needed applause. She simply did what needed to be done. She held families together. She kept traditions alive. She made holidays warmer. She made ordinary days sacred.

And on July 23rd, 2025, her beautiful soul was called home. The loss is deep. It is personal. And it leaves a space that will never be filled. But in that space lives her spirit. Her voice. Her hands. Her lessons. Her love.

Some more information:  

https://www.chapelofthelight.com/obituaries/emelita-pacada/#!/Obituary

Please feel free to contact me about any questions!