Elena Estacio Ramilo

It is with profound sadness we announce the passing of our
loving and devoted mother, Elena Estacio Ramilo.
Elena, 89, passed away
sleeping peacefully at home in Mill Creek, Washington on March 4, 2020 due to
natural causes. She was born Elena Aquitania Estacio on July 6, 1930 in
Rosario, La Union, Philippines to Pedro and Romana Estacio. She was married
for 55 years to Owen Militar Ramilo, who preceded her death in 2012. She
was the beloved mother of four children, Carlos, Maria, Manuel, and Ditas.
Elena lived a full life
as a faithful Christian, loving wife and mother, doting grandmother and great
grandmother, enthusiastic first generation American, devoted homemaker,
prolific vegetable gardener, respected English teacher, dedicated office
clerical worker, lifelong coffee lover, and a jet-setting space-available world
traveler.
She was the third of
five children, growing up in a small rural town just south of Baguio in the
Philippines. She recalls her childhood as cheerful, looking up to her
older siblings, sister Aurelia and brother Rosalio, and helping her parents
take care of the younger siblings, brother Francisco and sister Susan.
Elena earned a
bachelor's degree from Far Eastern University in 1952, graduating with a BA in
Education. After college, she taught English at Makati High School in
Manila. During this time, she met Owen, whom she would marry on December 29,
1957.
The family grew as the
four children were born and Owen and Elena worked toward their dream of coming
to America. Owen took jobs at U.S. air bases across Asia and the Pacific
working as an aircraft mechanic before arriving in the U.S. mainland in early
1968. Elena followed with the children, arriving in Seattle on December
4, 1968. Over the next two decades, Elena embraced the life of a suburban
mom and homemaker while assimilating into a new culture and learning and
growing in a new faith. She was especially active in the fledgling First
Filipino Baptist Church in Carson, California. If ever Elena was troubled
by any of these challenges, she never showed it and went about her life with
purpose, humility, and steadfastness.
The family lived in the Chicago
suburbs during the 1970s and in Carson, California during the 1980s and 1990s.
After Owen's retirement, they moved back to the Seattle area in 1999.
She described her later years as plentiful and joyful, relishing the opportunity
to watch and contribute to son Carlos's family grow up and have families of
their own.
Elena's love for her
family instilled in her children values such as faith, hard work, perseverance,
resourcefulness, and gratitude. Her favorite Baptist hymn, "To God Be the
Glory", reflects her gratefulness for all God's blessings and glory.
She is survived by son
Carlos Ramilo and daughter-in-law Hanna Ramilo and their family (Charlene
Madsen, Ryan Madsen, Rhoslyn Madsen, Camilla Madsen, Philippa Madsen, Meredith
Woo, Eric Woo, Anna Ramilo, and Kajsa Ramilo); daughter Maria Fong and
son-in-law Ronald Fong and their family (Lon Fong, Lee Fong, Jonathan Fong, and
Serena Fong); son Manuel Ramilo and daughter-in-law Victoria Ramilo and their
son (Marek Ramilo); and daughter Ditas Hunt and son-in-law Shawn Hunt and their
family (Ruby Hunt and Shawn Hunt, Jr.). She is also survived by her brother
Francisco Estacio, her sister Susan Etrata, and their respective families.
Elena will be dearly
missed and forever in our hearts. A celebration of her life will be held at
Chapel of the Resurrection Funeral Home,
16300 112th
Avenue NE, Bothell, Washington, 98011 on
Friday, March 13, 2020, with a 12 noon viewing and 2 pm ceremony.