10/08/2026
Dear Fellow Paniquenians,
Note: Below, please find the OBITUARY of the deceased that is shared to me by her daughter, Cecile:
LEONILA VALDEZ CRUZ
Jan. 5, 1931 - Sep. 14, 2026
It is with great sorrow to inform the friends and the Paniquenian community that our sister-in-Christ,
Leonila V. Cruz, 95, passed away on September 14, 2026 in San Francisco, California. She was born on January 5, 1931, in Badoc, Ilocos Norte, Philippines to the late Timoteo Valdez & Juana Tangonan. She was the youngest of 5 girls. The Valdez family moved to Mabini, Moncada, Tarlac when she was 5 years old, finished BSEEd and married Hanolino Cruz, the son of the late Mr. Ismael Cruz, in January 1957. They made a life in Paniqui, Tarlac and had 10 children, 8 boys – 3 who died in infancy - and 2 girls. Hanolino passed away 12 years ago.
The 4th son, Stephen, returned to the Lord last year.
Leonila emigrated to San Francisco in 1983 to follow her husband who left the Philippines 2 years earlier and worked as a paraeducator for San Francisco Unified School District until her retirement. She was a teacher all her life. She remained teaching in Mabini Elementary School until she retired to live in the United States.
Leoning, as she is known to relatives and friends, is survived by her 6 children: Arsene, Raden, Ephraim, Nathaniel, Cecile and Rachel, their respective spouses, 25 grandchildren and 23 great
grandchildren.
She was loving and caring, putting her family first before herself. She was always worrying for her
children, though sometimes too much, expressing her love for them because she wanted a happy
life for them. They were her pride and joy. At the sight of her grandchildren and great
grandchildren, she beamed with pride and she was at her happiest moment.
It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to Leonila, the glue of our family.
“Eternal rest grant unto the soul of Leonila Cruz O, Lord. Let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen”
SCHEDULE OF FUNERAL SERVICES
VISITATION/VIEWING:
Saturday, 10/10/26
4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Duggan’s Serra Mortuary
500 Westlake Ave
Daly City, CA 94014
Sunday, 10/11/26
4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Rosary Vigil - 6:00 PM
Duggan’s Serra Mortuary
500 Westlake Ave
Daly City, CA 94014
Celebration of Life Mass:
Monday, 10/12/26 at 10:30AM
St. Andrew’s Catholic Church
1571 Southgate Ave
Daly City, CA 94015
Internment follows immediately after mass:
Internment/ Burial:
Monday, 10/12/26 at 12:00PM
Cypress Lawn -Hillside
1701 Hillside Blvd.
Colma, CA
With our loving thoughts & prayers,
Sunshine Committee of the PaniqueniansUSA, Inc.
Co-chaired by:
Myrna Gille Lamorena
Dante Lamorena
Pete Beltran - Publisher
Led by:
Carolyn Sideco- President
++++++++++++++++++++++++
In Loving Memory
LEONILA VALDEZ CRUZ
+{• Jan. 5, 1931 - Sep. 14, 2026 •}+