Valermina Defiesta

Valermina Defiesta, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunty and friend passed away peacefully on August 12, 2022. Valermina was 86 years old. Valermina was born in Pepeekeo, Hawaii on June 10, 1936. She was raised by her parents, Cecilia and Leoncio Domingo in Naalehu, Hawaii and grew up with her siblings Juanito, Ludy and Pacita. She moved to Oahu to attend high school at Mid-Pacific Institute. After graduation, she moved to San Jose, CA to attend San Jose State University. She received a Bachelors of Science in Occupational Therapy in 1957. Valermina (Val) and Rosalino (Rosi) met at a San Jose State University Oriocci dance in 1956, they dated, were engaged and married on August 8, 1959. They raised their two children, Valerie and John, in San Jose. Val and Rosi celebrated their 63rd Wedding Anniversary on August 8, 2022. Val worked for the City of San Jose for many years and worked for the Mt. Pleasant School District for over 15 years and subsequently retired. She was a cancer survivor and later became a certified Reach to Recovery Visitor for the American Cancer Society for 11 years. She and Rosi volunteered every Tuesday at Martha's Kitchen in San Jose prepping meals for the community for over 20 years. Val enjoyed growing orchids, cooking and quilting. She loved growing an organic vegetable garden and participated in Plant an Extra Row for the homeless program by taking fruits and vegetables to Second Harvest Food Bank. She competed in orchid shows and received many honors. She loved to travel with Rosi and friends. She has traveled to the Philippine Islands, Panama, Caribbean, Asia and Europe. The family traveled to Dunsmuir, CA and enjoyed their annual camping trip. Her favorite activity was spending precious time with her family, especially her grandchilden.Val will be dearly missed by her husband, Rosalino Defiesta, her children Valerie and Michael Ng and John and Donna Defiesta, grandchildren Dominic Defiesta, Hi'ilani and Nathaniel Hadley, Aukai Ng, Jordan Defiesta, Sherissa Manglona, Leanna Manglona, Teana Manglona and great-grandson, Aukanai'i Hadley and great -granddaughters, Shylah Perry and Danni Perry, her siblings Juanito and Fely Fagaragan and Pacita Fagaragan-Dean, nephews, nieces and many friends.