Gene N Abella

IN MEMORIAM

In the early morning hours of August 20, 2018, Gene passed away peacefully at his San Jose, California home with his loving children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren at his bedside. He was 93 years old. His wife, Loretta, predeceased him in 2015.

Gene was born on August 29, 1924 in Ilio-ilio, a small and remote village 10 miles from the town of Burgos and 124 miles northwest of Manila, in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. He was the firstborn in a family of eleven children – eight brothers and two sisters. His parents were the Julio Abella and Librada Naval.

At a young age, Gene learned the importance of a good education from his parents who, despite their modest means, would make many sacrifices to provide for their children. Because his village didn't have a school that taught beyond 3rd grade, Gene continued his early schooling in neighboring towns as he progressed from grade school to high school, living with relatives away from home. Difficult as it was, he always studied hard and learned everything he could, values that would serve him well in the coming years.

Gene was completing his 4th year at the High School Department of Far Eastern University, in Manila, when WWII erupted on December 8, 1940. The ensuing years found Gene in a variety of temporary jobs – houseboy, payroll clerk, emergency school teacher, and steno typist. In 1946, at the end of the war, Gene took on a job as a correspondence clerk at the Insular Life Assurance Company, Ltd. Later that year, he enrolled as a Pre-Law student at Far Eastern University, proceeding into the College of Law two years later.

While at Insular Life, Gene met his future wife, Loretta Flores. Loretta was an administrative assistant to one of the department managers. It was Loretta who introduced Gene to the Church of Christ (Iglesia Ni Cristo) and awakened a strong faith in Gene that would continue throughout his life. What started as a budding friendship with Loretta eventually blossomed into a romance that culminated into their exchanging of married vows on June 7, 1949 in Tondo, Manila.

During their 66 years of married life, many highpoints filled their lives. They had their first child on April 10, 1950. Gene finished law school and passed the bar in 1951. Over the course of the next decade, they were blessed with a total of six children, 4 daughters and two sons. Gene went on to have a long and successful career at Insular Life, holding a variety of increasing responsibilities, traveling to many countries, and taking on a foreign assignment in Bangkok, Thailand from 1976 to 1981. After returning to Manila for a few years, Gene retired in 1984 as Senior-Vice President. The retired couple moved to San Jose, California to join their children who have previously immigrated to the US.

Throughout the years that followed his joining the Church, Gene's strong spiritual faith was the cornerstone that guided his thoughts and actions. He was very active and volunteered in a variety of offices in the Church. As Gene once wrote, "the offices I was entrusted with inside the Church stands as a testament to my commitment to be more than just an ordinary member".
Yet for all the highpoints in their married lives and Gene's career, raising their six children was something Gene and Loretta held with great pride. They passed on to them countless life lessons as their children grew up and pursued their own lives and careers. Now with several in-laws, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, Gene and Loretta were happiest when they took part in the many milestones in each of their lives.

Gene is survived by his six children, Dr. Nilda Agnes, widow of the late Dr. Carlo Abellera; Lilli Nanette and husband Samuel Castillo; Norman Dennis; Ginna Marisse and husband Patricio Collantes, Jr.; Gene Norris and wife Lenicia (Castillo); and Lizza Charisse, eight grandchildren, Pia Lizza (Abellera) and husband Arjay Angeles; Paolo Carlo Abellera and wife Micah (Soleta); Ria Lauren Abellera; Marco Angelo Abellera; Norman Francis Abella and wife Naville (Mendez); Vince Patrick Collantes; Gian Andre Abella; and Tristen Anton Abella, and three great-grandchildren, Raphael Jack Angeles; Mina Isabelle Angeles; and Ethan Carlisle Abellera. Gene is also survived by his five brothers, Teofilo; Wilfredo; Agapito; Romulo; and Tirso, and two sisters, Licaricion and Everlinda.