Most of you have your own fond memories about our dear Mommy.  She was such
a good person that we're sure she had touched you in some special way.

All her life  she aimed at being a good daughter and sister, a good
student, a good  librarian, a good wife and mother, and at being good to
everyone she related to.  She was simple, humble and sacrificing.  She
never turned a deaf ear to anyone in need as long as she had something or
even just a little to give or  to share.  It's not unusual that she would
pawn her jewelry to be able to help a friend without  expecting anything in
return. Yet, that good heart wasn't all there was to her.  She was brawn,
beauty and brains; a statuesque and slender woman.  She was rich in friends
and suitors from both high and low places.  Our Daddy had to go through a
tough competition when he courted her.

Mommy's nuclear family hails from San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija.  Her
aspiration was to study medicine but her parents could not afford to send
her to medical school, much less to college.  Because of this, she
willingly gave up her dreams of becoming a doctor.  Her family's economic
status, however, did not deter her from seeking a college degree.

Right after high school, she obtained a teaching job during the day to be
able to support herself through college in the evening at the University of
the Philippines.  After getting a college degree at U.P., she continued
working as a teacher.  She took the National Civil Service Examination and
garnered the highest grade nationwide.  This, of course, more than
qualified her to land a job as librarian at the National Library, where she
worked for decades.

Being the eldest of six children, she took it upon herself to support her
siblings from elementary school to college.  On top of this, she also
helped them get their first jobs.  She was always available as adviser and
mentor, inspiring them towards advancement in their own respective fields.

A turning point in her career was in 1950, when her office sent her to the
United States for a UNESCO scholarship at the University of Chicago for a
master's degree in Library Science.  Part of the program included travel
and visits to different libraries all over the USA.  During those years,
this kind of achievement was rare.  Such an honor bestowed upon a woman at
that time gained her admiration, especially from her "kababayans" in San
Leonardo, Nueva Ecija.  With great pride, her hometown celebrated her
homecoming with a huge welcome as if it were a town fiesta.

With her newfound confidence and optimism, and now promoted as Chief of the
Reference Division of the National Library, she also worked part-time in
the evening as Consultant Librarian and professor of English, Political
Science and Humanities at Mapua Institute of Technology.

Her hard-earned status and new position did not change her from helping
relatives and friends in getting either an education or a job.  They found
her very approachable.  Thus, it was no surprise that our apartment on
Malabon Street, Sta. Cruz, Manila, was frequented by many beneficiaries of
her magnanimity, some of whom lived with us for months or years.  Luckily,
our Daddy was equally understanding and helpful.

When Mommy retired from the National Library, she continued working as
full-time professor at Mapua up to age 75.

Her accomplishments in her career were recognized when she (being one of
the top ten outstanding librarians in the country) was elevated by the
Library Association of the Philippines to its very first Hall of Fame.
Afterwards, she led a quiet and simple life and died at the age of 91.

Let us pray for the repose of her soul and that God give her all the peace
and happiness she well deserved.

As we bid Mommy goodbye, we would also like to thank Cora for being such a
good daughter and sister.  She singlehandedly ran the household and devoted
her valuable and tireless efforts taking care of Mommy in all these  many
years until her last breath (the same way she did for Daddy and our brother
Mariano).  Day in and day out, it was Cora who sacrificed her personal
needs and comfort for Mommy.  From all of us who could not be there, we
pray to God that He reward Cora with equivalent blessings for her great
contribution to the family.

Thank you for joining us through all these.

Subject: Re: Fw: Mommy Conching de Jesus

Susan and Marijo,

I'm so very sorry about Auntie Conching.  I remember so very well the day
during the war while I lay in bed in Doctors Hospital recuperating from an emergency
appendectomy when she brought me every single fairy tale book in the Manila's
library.....Grimm's Fairy Tales, Andersen's Fairy Tales, the Red Book, Yellow
Book, Green Book and Blue Book of Fairy Tales.  Auntie had heard from
Daddy and Mama how much I loved to read fairy tales and brought these
books so during the10 days I was in the hospital, I had the greatest time
reading fairy tales.

I'm sure she is having the time of her life just visiting with all the
relatives up there, your father and grandfather, my Uncle Tito, my Dad and Mom.
I will remember her in my prayers, and you all also during this grieving
time.

Love,

Terry

Subject: thanks a million for everything!

to all of u.p. prep '66,

maraming maraming salamat for the wreath of flowers (w/ ribbon saying
". . . condolence from u.p. prep '66"); it was the most beautiful and the
biggest our family received for mommy).  also, for the fragrant white
roses.  my family and i were deeply touched by your warm and thoughtful
gesture;

thanks a lot to manny, lily & benjie for initiating and announcing my trip
to mla, my mom's condition then & later, info where she laid in state;

ganoon din kay becky, benjie, eq, guilly, jess, lily, liz, norms for coming
to my mom's wake and for their prayers; to jerry, for his warm condolences
c/o eq's cell phone; to manny, butch, indaySI and anaBU for your prayers
and for sending your condolences via email.

i'm sharing with all of you with personal pride and love for mommy the
eulogy i prepared that was read during the interment.  also, an email of a
cousin (daddy's niece).  it is our family's wish that she be remembered for
the full and and remarkable life she led.