Filomena Zunega Foronda

Filomena Zunega Foronda, 85, passed away on May 8, 2022, in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. A Funeral Mass was given on May 10, 2022, at Santa Maria Church.

Filomena (Mina or Fil) was born on September 29, 1937, in San Fernando, La Union to Jose Zunega and Ruth Budaden Zunega. She had three brothers, Henry, Alejo and Joaquin.

Filomena had a happy childhood living with her beloved parents and brothers in Bontoc, Mountain Province, Philippines. Her loving brothers never left her side and sang her to sleep every night. She cherished these songs and sang them to her family and patients all her life.

She received her Bachelor of Nursing degree at Baguio General Hospital in 1960. In her yearbook, she was described to "have a pleasant singing voice that could make the hearer believe they are in some enchanted land."

She met and fell in love with Paquito Peredo Foronda when they were both living at a boarding house owned by Paquito's Aunt Adela Lizardo. Paquito proposed to her at the top of a Ferris wheel and were married on December 8, 1963, at St. Joseph's Church in Baguio City.

Filomena and Paquito, along with their 3 children at the time, lived in Boys Town in Marikina, Manila, where Filomena worked as a nurse. In 1968, she braved the journey alone to the United States to support her family, arriving in Philadelphia to work as an Exchange Nurse. Paquito and her two sons, William and Paquito Jr. joined Filomena in Philadelphia in 1969. Their youngest son, Vincent was born in 1970 where they lived in Germantown, Philadelphia. Shortly thereafter, their daughter, Evangeline, along with her paternal grandfather, Alfredo, joined the family in Germantown.

Filomena worked at Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and later worked at All Saint's Rehabilitation Hospital in Chestnut Hill, PA in 1976. The family moved to Plymouth Meeting, PA in 1974. She worked at All Saint's Rehabilitation Hospital until she retired after approximately 25 years.

Filomena was extremely proud of her profession and loved taking care of her patients. She especially enjoyed taking care of the elderly and tried to ease their suffering with song, dance and laughter. She also enjoyed the camaraderie of her fellow nursing colleagues and doctors and coordinated a monthly lunch with "the girls" until she moved permanently with Paquito to the Philippines in 2021.

When she wasn't spending time with her children and her grandchildren, Filomena enjoyed taking tour buses on local excursions with her friends. She was also a wonderful cook and was famous for her eggrolls.

Filomena is survived by her husband, Paquito and their children: William Foronda, Paquito Foronda, Evangeline Bragitikos (Chuck) and Vincent Foronda. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Gabrielle Tomasko, Timothy Foronda, Alyssa Foronda, David Bragitikos, Olivia Bragitikos and Benjamin Foronda. She is also survived by her cousin, Consuelo Zunega Ordono, and many nieces and nephews.

In a letter written to Paquito, she wrote, "Life is never easy. However, an achievement is sweeter only after some amount of sacrifice. If I am an inspiration in your struggle, then I am thankful because I like to share whatever life brings to you simply because you mean so much to me."