Mrs. Guadalupe D. Pinpin

Born and raised in Santa Ana, Pampanga, Philippines, Guada was married to Bio C. Pinpin for 56 years until his death on November 29, 1993. Petitioned with Bio to the U.S. in 1978 by daughter Zena Custodio, she lived in Hawaii with her family until 1981, when they all moved to San Diego. Besides a son who died in infancy, she begot five children. Except for Siony, the youngest who declined her petition, all are U.S. residents. They are, with their spouses and progeny (all living): (1) Son Philip, daughter-in-law Connie, grandchildren James and Ness, granddaughter-in-law Judy, great-granddaughter Natalia. (2) Daughter Zena, son-in-law Rolly, granddaughters Ria and Nenette. (3) Daughter Beth, son-in-law Marc. (4) Son Leo, daughter-in-law Lulu, grandchildren Hazel, Mike, Liezl, grandson-in-law Cromwell, great-grandson Colin. (5) Daughter Siony, son-in-law Romy, grandchildren Rollo, granddaughter-in-law Hannell, great-grandchildren Jullianne, Audrey, Hannah, Marcus, Monique, granddaughter Roanne, grandson Byron, granddaughter-in-law Olive, great-granddaughter Bianca. She devoted her whole existence to being a loving wife to her husband and a caring mother to her children and extended family. What she considers her singular achievement in life, with Bio, was having been able to see all their children finish college. Both of them didn’t go beyond high school but on both sides of their families, their children were the first to attain this scholastic achievement. What makes her prouder still is that all her ten grandchildren have also graduated from college. She was very vocal of her family’s accomplishments and never got tired telling people at every opportunity. Her other “claim to fame� is that, at 93, she outlived all relatives and family members in her generation. Guada and Bio celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1987 in San Diego at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. They were devout Catholics and regularly attended services. All throughout their stay here, they were active in senior citizen circles and were given numerous honors including father and mother of the year. Guada also reigned as a member of the court in several senior pageants and was most happy making her ceremonial walk holding the arm of James, her favorite grandson. She enjoyed holding birthday parties for her many friends and relatives. Even late in her life, she anticipated for one year the next birthday after holding the last one, although she was already bed-ridden. She relished living and we are deeply saddened to see her go but then, we are comforted by the knowledge that she is now in a better place.