Felicitas Tan

On January 26, 2026, Felicitas Varona Cruz Tan, age 88, passed away peacefully at Preferred Care in Wall, NJ, surrounded by her loved ones. Born in Sampaloc, Manila and raised in Cebu and Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines, Nanay (as known to all) was the oldest of 12 children, born to the late Alfredo Cruz and Felicisima Varona. Nanay was the beloved wife of the late Rudy Tan, Sr. She is lovingly survived by her 7 children: Rudy Jr. (Yudeng), Florence (Poyen), Jocelyn (Nenette), Leah (LetLet), Edgar (Allan), Gloria (Gygytte) and Philip (Marc), as well as her grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

As a highly skilled seamstress, she embarked on a lifelong career spanning 8 decades in creating the most elaborate wedding gowns and women's fashion dresses, allowing her to travel the world from Europe in the 70s to the Middle East in the early 80s, finally setting up her own shop in the US in the late 80s.

While she worked, she loved listening to the Johnny Mathis, Kenny Rogers, and Willie Nelson, among many other contemporary artists of her time. A devout Deaconess in her Church, she diligently service in the Finance Office.

Through all this, Nanay remained the quintessential Matriarch – a constant, supporting presence, and a source of unwavering strength for all her children and grandchildren. She cherished family gatherings, creating lasting memories with everyone she met. Nanay will be remembered most as a generous and selfless loving mother, grandmother, and mother-in-law.

Relatives and friends are invited to her Visitation on Thursday, February 5th from 9:00 – 11:00 AM at the Healey Funeral Home, 9 White Horse Pike, Haddon Heights, NJ where her Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM. Interment will be held at New Saint Mary's Cemetery, 515 West Browning Road, Bellmawr, NJ 08031.