In Loving Memory of Lilia Dante Lao

Hello, my name is Dhang. Five years ago, I lost my husband and felt that I am now well-acquainted with grief until this Tuesday, October 17, 2023, when I lost my mom—Lilia Dante Lao. She died the day before her 81st birthday. The grief I once thought I knew resurfaced with greater intensity and deeper gnawing sense of loss.

My mom lived a gracious and colorful life although she had to raise eight children by herself. She was originally from the Philippines and had moved to the US a few while back after I petitioned her. Yet even as a kid, asthma had been her main health issue. Having caught COVID during the peak of the pandemic didn’t help either, but she remained the strong and lively woman that she is, continually giving joy, encouragement, and motherly love to the people around her. She likes to sing and dance, too. Here is a couple of old videos of her in action:

Recently, she had been experiencing more intense difficulty in breathing. Many a time she was taken to the hospital, and recover, and then sent back few months later. During her last visit to the doctor, she surprised their team leaving the doctor to comment that internally she might be healthier than he is. There was no other findings, but she was prescribed to use her nebulizer every six hours.

It was early in the morning of October 17, 2023, when she had another episode of her asthmatic condition. We immediately called 911 because the situation seems to require more than a nebulizer. She was helped by the first responders and was attempted to be revived, but to no avail. She was declared dead one hour later. And just that, the world stood still.

While the family is mourning, we also recognize that we are in need of financial help to make the final wishes of our mom come true. It has been her ultimate dream to have all her children and grandchildren join her celebrate her birthday in the US. On her 75th birthday it became a reality (partly) such that all of my living siblings were able to travel from the Philippines to the US. Given many financial struggles as a family and generally in the world around us, that was the last time we were together. The last time we had her together.

That is why on behalf of the Lao family, I have organized this fundraising activity. We will use your generous donations toward the expenses associated to providing for my mom’s funeral and help honor her memory. Specifically, we are planning to bring my siblings from the Philippines to the US to pay their respects to have a time together again for her. The fund will also cover the cost of having her grandchildren and great-grandchildren celebrate with us the effervescent life of their grandma. Together again for the one and only Lilia Dante Lao.

Please feel free to contribute as you wish. We know that the times are difficult, but we will greatly appreciate any help you can extend. To those who have sent heartfelt and comforting words to the family up to this point, we thank you sincerely.

Through it all, we still want to declare that the Lord Jesus Christ is altogether good. Our hope is in Him.

Much love.