Alejandra Nasol Iglesia

Salinas

Alejandra Nasol Iglesia

Alejandra Nasol Iglesia passed away Friday, March 14, 2014 at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital, after having been in declining health for several months. She was 91 years old. Alejandra was born Feb. 9, 1923 in Camalig, Albay, the Philippines, to Jose Nasol and Sabina Nacional.

Married to her late husband, Deogracias, at age 16, she and her husband devoted more than half of their lives to raising seven sons and two daughters. Three other sons and one daughter died in infancy. The couple made sure that all of their nine children completed college---perhaps because she and her husband never earned an elementary or high school diploma. To do this, Alejandra bought and sold various perishable goods and merchandise while her husband farmed. At the same time, she served as an elected official in her village in the Philippines. On the home front, she made sure that her children fulfilled their religious obligations as Roman Catholics. Their job done, she and her husband immigrated to Salinas in 1986.

Within a year of arriving in California, Alejandra enrolled at Hartnell College and took classes in English, Spanish, and other personal enrichment courses. While helping raise three grandchildren in Salinas, she also volunteered at Headstart and at Natividad Medical Center. She loved to read, sing, and dance. Even in the final days of her life, she could be heard humming her favorite songs. Her interests were diverse and varied, but family was always at the top of her priorities. She was also a devout Catholic.

In 2000, she and her husband renewed their wedding vows in Sydney, Australia, on their 60th wedding anniversary. In attendance at their Roman Catholic wedding ceremony were all of their nine children---two of whom live and work in Australia, three in the Philippines, and four in the United States. The following year, her husband passed away at age 85.

Three years ago, on her 88th birthday, her nine children gathered once again---this time in Fremont---to pay homage to the family matriarch.

Alejandra leaves behind two daughters and seven sons: Alda (Ron) and Mylene (Francis) of Fremont; Rudy (Azucena), Orlando (Ella, deceased), and Rey (Amy), of the Philippines; Molin (Lilia) and Ross (Cielo) of Australia; and Briggs (Eva) and Efren (Lite) of Salinas. She also leaves behind 23 grandchildren: Cindy, Rudy Jr., Ma. Armi Lynn, Rudcen, Angelie, Michael, Jamil, Karl, and Kyla all of the Philippines; Molin Jr., Lester, Lea, Ian, Isobelle, Chelsea, Skye, Dianna, and Kady, all of Australia; Brandon of Fremont; and Alec, Jonathan, Kimberly, and Patricia of Salinas; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Alejandra's nine children and a number of grandchildren were all gathered at her private viewing and rosary on March 20, 2014 at Struve and Laporte Funeral Home and at her private funeral services on March 21, 2014 at the Garden of Memories Cemetery, where she was interred with her late husband.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a hug to your loved ones or a gift to your favorite charity.

Funeral arrangements by Struve and Laporte Funeral Home.

For more information and to share a memory, visit www.struveandlaporte.com.