Vicenta So

Vicenta, 93 years young, beloved mother and grandmother passed away peacefully on November 26, 2024.

She was born on June 25, 1931 in San Isidro, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. She was the only child of her parents Eusebio Chua Mendoza and Inocencia De la Cruz. She attended both the Holy Ghost High School and Chiang Kai Shek High School prior to matriculating at the University of Santo Tomas. She received her AA in 1951 and her MD in 1956.

Through her childhood best friend, Victoria, she would meet Domiciano (Victoria's brother) who became her soulmate. After graduating from medical school, they married and together traveled to the US. Following an internship at the Little Company of Mary Hospital (Chicago, IL), they completed a residency (she in Pediatrics and he in Internal Medicine) at the Malden Hospital (Malden, MA). She would forgo an opportunity to further train in Neonatology and instead went home to the Philippines to start her practice and her family

For more than 4 decades, Vicenta and her husband shared an office space. She helmed the growing section of Newborn Nursery at The Metropolitan Hospital. She took pride in caring for one of the youngest preemies to be born at the hospital. Over the years, she would care for the children and their children with tireless dedication. She would help train generations of Pediatricians at "Metro."

Vicenta and her husband were inseparable in life. Together with their 3 sons, they traveled extensively in their spare time. As time went on, she took on the role of a beloved grandmother and grand aunt. After her husband passed away, Vicenta would continue her Pediatric practice for a few more years before reluctantly retiring in 2012. She lived with her sons in Lake Elsinore, CA and in Dallas, TX. In her later years, she enjoyed watching Asian Drama series, keeping in touch with friends and family through social media, and staying abreast of the latest news on her tablet. Despite her falls and evolving cognitive decline, her sharp wit and humor shined through. After 17 years, she again joined the love of her life.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Domiciano. She is survived by her sons: Herbert (daughter -in-law Malou) of Lake Elsinore, CA; Andrew of Manila, Philippines; and Gerald (daughter-in-law Yollie) of Dallas, TX. She also leaves behind 7 grandchildren: Nico, Kevin, Kent, Kathleen, Kody, Isabella (fiancé Jason), Mitchell. She will also be missed by a host of nephews, nieces, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

Her family would like to thank the many family members (in the US and the Philippines) who have always remembered her and reached out to her. The family would also like to thank the physicians, nurses, and staff at Medical City Heart Hospital, the nurses and staff at Medical City Hospice, the physicians and staff at Southwest Family Medicine Associates. Her family is especially grateful to the Staff at The Wellington at Arapaho for their compassionate care for her.

In lieu of flowers, donations if desired could be made to their favorite charity.