Lolita P. Lapid, beloved mother of four, grandmother of six, and great grandmother of two, passed away peacefully on July 11, 2024, surrounded by her loving family and friends. She was 87 years old.

Lolita, one of eight children, was born and lived out her formative years in Floridablanca, in the province of Pampanga, located in Central Luzon, Philippines. She often retold stories of a hard-working but idyllic childhood, focused around family and steeped in the Catholic tradition. Life changed dramatically for Lolita in December 1941 when Japanese forces invaded the Philippines shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, including the takeover of Clark Air Force Base in Pampanga. She and her family survived years of occupation with grit and determination until the American-Filipino liberation finally began in late 1944.

She married Bienvenido Lapid in 1960, who joined the U.S. Navy under the Philippine Enlistment Program, which provided a path for U.S. citizenship in exchange for service. In 1967, Lolita and Bienvenido, then with two young children, moved to the United States, seeking a new life and new opportunities. This was an exciting, but challenging time for Lolita, who often found herself raising her four children alone while Bienvenido was away on months-long naval deployments. She quickly formed kinships and lifelong bonds with other newly arrived Filipino families, developing a support system that remains strongly intact to this day.  

Despite facing cultural and economic obstacles, Lolita quickly found work as an elementary school teacher, and educated thousands of children over a 30-year career within the Chula Vista School District. She also received a Masters in Education from San Diego State University in 1981. Many of her former students, now adults, recall her compassion, wonderful sense of humor, and tough love. In the course of her career, she developed a unique skill for craft projects utilizing recycled materials, and other teachers came to emulate her techniques.

Lolita’s deep affection for her family and friends was truly genuine and widespread, and she and Bienvenido opened their home many times over the years for those who needed help. She loved to share her cooking, would converse on a variety of topics, and encouraged everyone around her to aspire to be the best they could be no matter the circumstances or obstacles. Despite her reputation for blunt, unfiltered commentary, she had a deeply gracious and loving nature, as exemplified by the hundreds of greeting cards that she has distributed on holidays and special occasions – each containing heartfelt sentiments that she had carefully penned for each recipient.

After a lifetime of love and devotion, she is now finally reunited with her beloved Bienvenido, who passed away in 1992. She leaves a long legacy of compassion, generosity, and devotion. She will be missed beyond measure.