Eliseo Vallejera Repique

Eliseo Vallejera Repique, 89, born on March 1, 1931, in Himamaylan, Philippines, passed away December 19, 2020. He resided in Los Angeles, CA at the time of his passing. Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Glendale, California.

Eliseo Vallejera Repique was born March 1, 1931, the fourth of the five children of Segundo and Francisca Repique, in Himamaylan, Negros Occidental, Philippines.

Ely was a kind, gentle man who believed in the power of hard work, education, and especially family.

He left the family farm to pursue his education, living with his uncle in a nearby town to finish high school in 3 years and graduating as the class salutatorian. He completed a Bachelor of Science in Education, then a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology at Philippine Union College. Decades later, even with his responsibilities as a husband and a father of three, he was one of the first doctoral students in Clinical Biochemistry in the Department of Pathology at the Chicago Medical School. He completed a Master of Science degree in 1972 and was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1974. Known as "Dr. R", Eliseo was a knowledgeable and caring leader in his 30 year career as a clinical biochemist in the toxicology department at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Eliseo had a deep and abiding faith in God, living his life and raising his family in accordance with those beliefs. He was active in his church, serving on the board and as an elder at the Vallejo Drive Seventh Day Adventist Church in Glendale, CA.

While working as a Med Tech at the Manila Sanitarium and Hospital, Ely met the love of his life, Celerina Oreste, the pretty nurse with a beautiful smile. When she moved to the United States in 1956, he followed in 1957. He worked first in San Antonio, TX, and the next year, finally moved to Los Angeles where Cely was working. They wed in September 1958, on a Monday evening in a small wedding chapel in Los Angeles. They were inseparable and devoted to each other for the 58 years of their marriage, true partners in everything.

Ely provided for his family, not only his immediate family, but, whenever possible, his extended family as well. He seemed at his happiest presiding over large family celebrations with Cely. He instilled in his daughters the value of higher education. He was very proud of his 3 Drs. Repique: Charlene Repique Schroder, PhD; Lorelei Repique Bietz, MD; and Jeanelle Repique, EdD.

Ely and Cely loved to travel and were able to take many memorable trips together, often with his sister Jemimah and her family, and with other family and friends. After Cely was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2007, Ely was her primary caregiver at home for 6 years until she required a higher level of care and was admitted to Solheim Lutheran Home. Ever devoted, Ely visited Cely in the care home twice a day, every single day for 3½ years, until she passed away in December 2016.

After the loss of Cely, Ely's health and memory declined. He suffered a TIA in 2019 and he too became a resident of Solheim. When in-person visits were curbed by the pandemic, he still enjoyed visiting with his daughters by Skype or FaceTime. In December 2020, he became progressively ill over a few days, fatigued and less alert. He was admitted to Glendale Adventist Medical Center, where he tested positive for COVID-19. Ely fell asleep in Jesus on December 19, 2020. He died as the Sabbath ended, embraced by the prayers and voices of loved ones, a few moments after hearing his daughter tell him good-bye.

We wait for the resurrection morning, when we know we will see him again. Until then, he will rest next to his beloved wife Cely, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA.

Eliseo is survived by his daughters Charlene Repique Schroder (Edward), Lorelei Repique Bietz (Gregory), and Jeanelle Kathleen Repique (Jonathan); his granddaughter AnnElise Repique Schroder; his sister Jemimah Repique Ungson; his many nieces and nephews; and members of his extended family.