Arcangel G Velarde

In loving memory of our dear Nanay, Arcangel Gatpayad Velarde, who passed away on November 11, 2022, at the golden age of 92 years old. Born in Pateros, Rizal Philippines on March 24, 1930, she was the fourth of the five sisters who survived of her fifteen siblings born in the early 1900s. She was a loving Mother, Sister, Wife, Aunt, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother and matriarch of the Velarde Family.

Our mother was a caring loving, and fierce advocate for her children and grandchildren. Lovingly referred to us all as Nanay, she embodied every sense of the word in her love for even those who weren’t her own children but those she considered family in her own way. She was a devout woman of strong Catholic faith and taught us the importance of family, hard work and being together. In her twenties, she was a career woman who spent over two decades of her life working in secretarial and administrative jobs and eventually landing a position where she met her husband Abe Tandog Velarde at Nichols Air Force Base located south of Manila in Pasay and Parañaque, Metro Manila, Luzon, the Philippines. On April 24, 1954 she married the love of her life in a church ceremony at the Church of Santisimo Rosario Parish in Binondo, Manila, Philippines.

They were married 68 years and have three children, (Veronica, Valerio and Fredda). She spent years looking after her kids as a homemaker while her husband served in the Air Force Reserve in the Philippines and then retired to take care of her grandchildren. In 1993, she immigrated to the United States and eventually naturalized as a citizen. She loved being with her family and enjoyed raising her grandchildren and spending time in Pateros with her many nieces and nephews. Her favorite past-time was playing bingo, cooking and looked forward to every Christmas and New Year to celebrate with family far and wide. She paired this love for the holiday season with many triple knit sweaters and was content cooking all night while she made the best arroz -caldo, and menudo in town. The staple of every family gathering, she was always found at the hub of the house, (the kitchen), doling out advice, stories of childhood and making her grandkids laugh at her many ways of describing American words translated into Castila and Tagalog.

Affectionately known as “Nanay” which means Mother in Tagalog, she is survived by her three children, Veronica, Valerio, and Fredda, their spouses, Naldy, Aid, and Rey, her grandchildren, Joana-Lou, Angele Jean, Ronald Jed, Danilo-Dominic Alfonso, Arnauld-Jared, Angelo Dominic, and Raynell Jane, her great grandchildren, Ava Marié, Max Elon, Leila, James Ethan, John Jaxon, Ezekiel, Mason Alexandre, Owen Alfonso, Hannah Yvon and her extended family, Michael, Mark, Alan, and Aurora. She is also survived by nieces and nephews in the Philippines from her four sisters, (Nanay Juaning, Ditche, Sansé, and Tia Benid)

To honor her memory, we are holding a celebration of life on December 10th at 11am the Oxford Inn in Palmdale, CA. We invite anyone who knew her to attend and remember and celebrate her wonderful life. For our families around the world in Canada, Australia, across the US, and Europe, especially in the Philippines; we plan to live stream her memorial, more details to be shared via email.

Nanay, we love you and miss you every day. You are now at peace with Tatay and will live on forever in our hearts.

We love you so much. Rest in Paradise.