Mario L. Bayani, 78, passed away on April 4, 2020 in Las Vegas, following a fight with Covid-19 complications. Born on July 18, 1941 in Binan, Laguna, Philippines, Mario was the second of nine children of Jose Bayani and Juliana Limano.
A bright and hard-working student, Mario obtained his bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the Far Eastern University in Manila in 1961, and passed the Certified Public Accountants Board Examinations the same year.
While working as a part-time junior accountant at Chinese General Hospital in Manila, a nursing student and his future wife, Feli Ventura, dropped into Mario’s life. Upon meeting her for the first time, Mario felt thunderbolts inside him – a joy he couldn’t explain and a love for a stranger he couldn’t define. Thus, the song, “The First Ever I Saw Your Face,” had remained in his heart and soul for the rest of his life. On June 9, 1965, Mario and Feli promised to love, honor, and cherish each other eternally in a private wedding held in Quezon City, Philippines.
A month later, Mario and Feli immigrated to America and settled in Chicago, Illinois. Mario pursued his post graduate studies in Business at De Paul University. Armed with courage and determination, Mario was overwhelmed with joy when he passed the Uniform Illinois CPA Examinations in 1972. As practicing CPA, Mario was the driving force behind the business successes of his many clients. He eventually served as vice president of Craftsman Custom Metals and Epicurean Foods in Schiller Park, Illinois for 18 years until his retirement in 1998. However, he remained as consultant of both companies, focusing on Employee Benefits-Profit Sharing & 401-K.
Mario was an avid churchgoer, traveler, community leader, and ballroom dancer. Under his stewardship, as president of the Bulacan Circle of Greater Chicago and Sampaguita Family Club in Skokie, Illinois, Mario volunteered countless hours to raise funds for the benefit of Emmaus House of Apostolate in Malolos, Bulacan, a refuge for the poor, homeless, and unwanted; the Bethany House Santo Nino Orphanage in Guiginto, Bulacan, a temporary residence for neglected and abandoned children; and the Nazareth Home for Street Children in Bustos, Bulacan, a center-based institution that provides a home care to less fortunate children.
Mario and Feli had traveled to five continents which included Europe, North America, South America, Africa, and Asia, often via cruises. When someone asked Mario about their most memorable vacation, his quick response was their cruise and land tour in Istanbul, Turkey and Tel Aviv, Israel. “The foundation of my Roman Catholic faith came to fruition during our spiritual journey through the Holy Land,” Mario explained.
In 2008, Mario and Feli decided to spend their retirement years in Las Vegas, a city where their biggest social challenge was not who to see and what to do, but how to schedule their time so that they could cram everything and everyone into their lives. Once a week, Mario would put on his dancing shoes to enjoy the sensory experience at the Gold Coast Casino’s “Ballroom Dancing with Manny.” He immensely enjoyed ballroom dancing and swaying to the rhythm of the rumba beat. And when the lights turn dim and the music plays, Mario’s heart and soul would take him to a whole new romantic world with the love of his life, Feli.
Mario’s greatest joy in life was spending time with his family and friends. On weekdays at 7:30 pm, Mario would watch “Jeopardy” on TV and yell out the answers. “Everyone was amazed,” Feli said. “He knew most of them.” His other interests included watching sports, especially basketball and football, reading the local newspapers, and cooking Filipino food. While Mario enjoyed living in modern and progressive times, he always adhered to the old Filipino traditional values of home, family, and religiosity.
Mario leaves behind his loving wife of 55 years, Feli, sons Christopher and Michael, daughter-in-law Amanda, and grandsons Gage and Mikey. His everlasting memory and spirit will also be cherished by his surviving siblings: Maria Purisima, Ernesto, Oscar, Josefina, Leonardo, and Pete.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am, October 15, 2020, at St. Sharbel Catholic Church, followed by an inurnment service at 12 noon at Palm Eastern Mortuary Cemetery. Lunch will be served afterwards at the Spaghetto Italian Kitchen in Henderson from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
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