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2015
Judith B. Tagami
May 8, 1921~Nov. 19, 2015
Residence of Watsonville
Judith Balcena Tagami died at the age of 94 in Watsonville, on November 19, 2015. She was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on May 8, 1921, the youngest of four children, to Nemesio Balcena and Marcela Rivera Balcena. She is the last survivor of the Balcena generation.
Her family was one of the few who had emigrated as a family from Ilo-Ilo, the Visayan islands of the Philippines in 1912 to the Territory of Hawaii (most Filipino immigrant laborers at that time were single males). Her father was a "Katipunero," a mestizo revolutionary who fought against the Spanish and later the Americans for the independence of the Philippines.
Judith was raised in Honolulu, Watsonville, Davenport, Monterey, and Lompoc. Her parents farmed strawberries in Davenport and later worked in the sardine factories on Cannery Row. Judith's teenage years were spent in Lompoc, California, where she was crowned Queen of the Santa Maria Filipino Community. She was known at the Filipino social dances for her excellent swing steps, her good looks and fashionable clothes, and her sweet voice when she would be asked to sing with the dance orchestra. Since there were few young Filipino women, beautiful Judith was sought after by the multitude of Filipino bachelors in the mid to late 1930s, who were turned away at the Balcena's Lompoc front porch by her father, along with the sign: "No Visitors: what 4 you want?"
At the age of 16, Judith married Jerry Caoile and they had a daughter, Andrea. Later, she divorced Mr. Caoile and married Robert "Mariano" Tagami, the love of her life. They settled in Watsonville, where they sharecropped strawberries. They had 7 seven children: Lene, Robert, Rey, Fred, Jeff, Richard and Alan.
In the early days, she was a waitress for Rosita Tabasa's Filipino restaurant. Judith helped with the strawberry sharecropping; she was a cannery worker for Crosetti Foods and worked in numerous packing sheds in the Pajaro Valley. Her son, poet Jeff Tagami, wrote many poems to his mother in his book "October Light," including "Now it is Broccoli," "Labor of Love" and the poem "Pajaro," which was part of the PBS poetry documentary film "The United States of Poetry."
In later years, Judith was a devoted SF Giants and 49ers fan. Judith loved her family, and she loved to cook. She enjoyed vacationing in her native Hawaii. One of her biggest thrills was meeting Don Ho. (Although she would have welcomed the opportunity, she never saw the land of her parents, the Philippines.) Judith was a member of the Watsonville Filipino Community Organization and the Watsonville Filipino Women's Club.
Judith will forever be known for her generosity towards the many friends and extended family members whose lives she touched. Whether it was an invitation for a simple weekday family meal or the feasts she provided for holidays, she always welcomed with open arms, a smile and a drink. She was always quick to pick up a lunch or dinner tab and never missed handing out "birthday money" to her kids. There were many instances through the years when her children's friends just needed a place to stay for a few days and she never denied her home. Judith was also very generous with sage advice in regards to finance, romance or the job of raising children. Her physical beauty was only surpassed by the beauty she displayed in the love for her family.
Judith was preceded in death by her husband Robert Tagami (2012); sons, Jeff (2012) and Rey (2013) Tagami; and daughter Lene Tagami (2014); her brothers Frank and Adam Balcena, and her sister Salud Pecson Rosario.
She is survived by her children: Andrea Bucaloy of Watsonville, Robert Tagami (Judy) of Vancouver, WA; Daughter- in-law Judy Tagami of Pebble Beach; Fred Tagami of Watsonville; Daughter- in-law Shirley Ancheta-Tagami of Santa Cruz; Richard Tagami (Diane) of Watsonville; and Alan (Lynne) of Hollister; nine grandchildren: Karen Bucaloy, David Bucaloy, Liana and Kiersten Tagami; Miles and Travis Tagami, Terri Tagami, Paige and Shae Tagami; and six great grandchildren: Amanda Thygersen; Mikaela Minoggi; Dustin, Chelsea, and Drew Bucaloy; and Treygee Tagami; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The Tagami family would like to extend special thanks to the staffs of Valley Convalescent, Watsonville and Whispering Pines Inn, Hollister for their loving care in the final year of Judith's life.
Visitation will be held at Mehl's Colonial Chapel on Monday, Nov. 30th from 5pm-9pm with a recitation of Rosary at 7pm. Graveside services will be held Tuesday, Dec. 1st at 11 am at Watsonville Catholic Cemetery.
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I salute your veteran. My condolences for your loss and gratitude for your loved one's service to our country.
November 29, 2015
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