With the heaviest heart, I must tell the world that our beloved matriarch and fearless leader, Rowena Lovato, has suddenly & unexpectedly, arrived at the conclusion of her life cycle on this Earth.

Rowena, mom, tita, honey, Weng, Giti, - a rose by so many names - "Roe" was known for her fighting spirit and determination. She was a powerhouse: our favorite Sagittarius, our beloved dancing queen and the deepest of roots in our family. While often fierce and confident, Roe had a tender and generous heart. She adored little children, her beloved dog Maya and she *always* put family first. One thing we all know to be true about Roe is that she believed in helping others - any way she could, no matter what. This loss grows more devastating as we begin to see the exact impact she had on everybody she has loved.

While celebrating retirement in the Philippines, Rowena, my mom and best friend, suffered from a stroke. This type of stroke, a brain hemorrhage, is often fatal. For a few days, my mom was on life-support in the ICU in Mindoro Occidental, Philippines. While in the ICU, Roe's nieces, nephews and brother remained by her side 24/7. Family from Chicago was racing to be with her when her health began to decline rapidly. Left with no other choice, we said goodbye to my beautiful, amazing mom on Easter Sunday 2026 (central time).

Right now, more than prayers and well wishes, we need financial support. Due to complicated international constraints, my mom's health insurance is not covering ANY of the costs. Thus, we, the family, are paying *everything* out of pocket. The funds collected from this GoFundMe will be used to pay for costs related to my mom's ICU/life-support -- as well as -- covering all necessary funeral expenses so that my mom can arrive at her final resting place state-side with her children. At a later date, a celebration of life will be hosted so that we can honor memories and goodbyes with family and friends.

Please help us navigate the worst days of our lives.