Virginia Abrogena

Virginia P. Abrogena, born March 5, 1949 in Lagangilang, Abra, Philippines.
Resided in Tampa, Florida, passed away on March 13, 2024, in Dade City, FL.
She came to the United States as a registered nurse in the early 70s, seeking "The
American Dream." She accomplished that and obtained her United States
citizenship in 2012. Virginia is predeceased by her Father, Venancio Bolayong
Progreso, her mother, Matea Vidal Progreso, her oldest brother, Redemptor
Progreso, and youngest brother Cristeto "Imbit" Progreso. She is survived by her
forever love, Mariano "Joe" Abrogena, her daughter, Martina Abrogena, her son-
in-law, Earl Rodriguez, her grandsons Seth and Zach Rodriguez, her younger
brother, Solomon Progreso Sr., her sisters-in-law, Concepcion Cainglit, Linda
Calaramo, Lolita Galam, Norma Belarmino, and Araceli Progreso. She will also be
celebrated by her extended family and her foster children, Sheba, Charmaine,
Bong, Mary Ann, Frank, Michael and Karen.
Friends will be received on Friday, March 22, 2024, from 1 pm to 2 pm at the
Seven Hills Chapel of Brewer & Sons Funeral Home. The service will be officiated
by Pastor Dan Clemens of Countryside Christian Church. She will be laid to rest at
the Historic Masaryktown Cemetery following the service.
Virginia grew up in Lagangilang, Abra, Philippines. As her family fondly calls her,
Virgie was a sickly middle child out of four children and the only daughter. Due to
these circumstances, she was kept at home helping with her mother's
convenience store. One of her biggest complaints during her childhood was that
her mother was so busy with the store that she didn't receive much attention. She
took advantage of her mother's inattention to swipe candies and chocolates from
their store. Because of this, she had a lot of cavities and would tell her grandkids
not to overeat chocolate or sweets. Otherwise, they would end up like her and
have dentures.
Virgie attended Holy Cross School for primary and secondary schooling. She
would continue her education by enrolling into St. Catherine's nursing school and
would later graduate from Arellano University with a bachelor's degree in nursing.
While in college, Virgie would meet her best friend who would later become her
daughter's mother-in-law. She would also meet her future husband.
Virgie came to the United States in the early 70's as a nurse in Chicago, Illinois.
When her contract ended, she went back to the Philippines. In 1978, she and her
college suitor, Mariano, were married. She struggled with infertility for six years.
Virgie would eventually have a daughter, Martina Cortessa, nicknamed "Lucky" in
1983 with the help of Clomid.
In 1990, due to the Gulf War, her husband, a mechanical engineer, was forced to
return to the Philippines; the family's primary source of income was cut even
though Virginia was working as a nurse at Abra Provincial Hospital. The income
she brought to the family was not enough to cover the essentials.
Due to her family's financial constraints, Virginia sought "The American Dream"
by emigrating to Pahokee, Florida, in 1991 to provide for her family. She would
eventually live in Gainesville, Florida where Mariano and Martina would later join
her in 1995.
After three years, at the suggestion of her college friend, the whole family moved
to Tampa, Florida, where they've resided since then.
In 2005, to Virginia's pride and joy, her daughter, Martina graduated from the
University of South Florida with her bachelor's in nursing. In 2005, Virginia
reconnected with her college best friend and bunkmate; their children were
married five years later, linking them further. Six years later, in 2016, Virginia's
first grandson was born, and she would often babysit for him until her arthritis
got worse. Two years later, she would undergo open-heart surgery, and she was
out of the hospital in less than a week. In 2019, her second grandson was born.
Her family was her life and inspiration, and though she was suffering, she tried to
endure her pain.
Virginia was a retired registered nurse from St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa. She
also worked at Kindred Hospital and Bayshore Pointe Rehab Facility, formerly
known as Mariner Rehab Facility. She was a shopaholic whether it was clothes,
bags, make-up, perfume, or food. She would shop until she dropped. She was a
generous relative; she often worked extra hours to have something to send to her
less fortunate relatives in the Philippines. She was hospitable, caring, and loved to
cook. She would have loved to travel more. Unfortunately, her rheumatoid and
osteoarthritis held her back.
Virginia was a devout Christian. Before her death, she was a member of the
Countryside Chrisitan Church and a lifetime member of the United Church of
Christ in the Philippines.