Obituary of Mrs. Cecilia Pizarro
Our beautiful wife, mother, grandmother and sister, Cecilia Pizarro, exuded a youthfulness and strength beyond her 71 years. Thus, it is with profound sadness that we announce her unexpected passing on September 6, 2023.
Cecilia, born on November 15th to Pedro Delos Reyes and Juanita Manabat, was the third sibling among nine. She reveled in her role as "Ate Cesy," displaying maturity well beyond her years. Growing up, she flew through her household chores “like a tornado”. Her younger brother, Fermin who was faced with the challenge of cancer devoted her time to care for him. Cecilia’s selfless dedication to him continued into adulthood. Her commitment to the well-being of her family extended further to her aging parents whom she cared for with the support of her siblings, adapting her own house to ensure their every need was met.
Cecilia was the self-appointed party planner and memory maker. Whether it was an annual holiday gathering, a chartered bus trip or cottage weekend with her large extended family, or baby and bridal showers for her own growing family, she executed the task with skill and enthusiasm. She was the consummate host, creating elaborate handmade decorations, setting up games, and cooking countless dishes of food. She found so much pleasure in seeing everyone she loved all together, happy and full.
For her husband, Rudolfo, and sons, Jonathan, Adrian and Sherwin, Cecilia was the heartbeat of their home. While she was authoritative and disciplinary by nature, these traits were tempered by her generous nature and nurturing spirit. She approached domestic life as a married mother with the same vigor and attention to detail as her household chores when she was a girl. After her sons moved out, she would show up with tupperware containers filled with the home-cooked meals they missed. Her door was always open to them, her refrigerator full. She sought out opportunities to care for her grandchildren and be a constant presence in her children’s lives, even if it meant driving two hours to Jonathan’s and Adrian’s houses in London or taking an Uber to Sherwin’s condo in the winter. For 42 years, she animated Rudy’s quiet life with music, dancing, travel, countless home improvement and gardening projects—and most of all, a deep and tangible love. Their time together was precious, and will never be enough.
Cecilia’s heart was as big as her laugh, which could fill an entire room. Ultimately, it was her heart that was unable to keep up. Cecilia is survived by her husband, sons, and daughters-in-law, Jessa, Angela and Abby. She will be greatly missed by her grandchildren Jolene and Jacob, who enjoyed spending time with their beloved Mama and Lolo, including those treasured final days. Her granddaughters Paloma and Inez will grow up hearing about their Lola, who cared so tenderly for them as babies, and how they inherited her face and eyes.
Cecilia took her final breath surrounded by her immediate family, her siblings Beatriz (Ricardo), Delia (Marcos), Erlinda (Feliciano), Gene, Hermes (Aurea) and Irene (Michael), sister-in-law Raphaela, and other cherished members of her extended family. She is predeceased by her parents, brothers Alfredo and Fermin, and sister-in-law Christina.
Cecilia’s greatest joy was bringing people together. As we gather now in grief, we will fill the space she left behind with memories of a life spent in service and support of others. Her legacy lives on in the values and traditions she passed on to her family, and the sound of her laughter will reverberate in our hearts forever.
