Cecilia Tapalla

We celebrate the life of our beloved Cecilia Combate Tapalla who passed peacefully in Riverside, CA on September 17, 2016 two months shy of her 93rd birthday. She is survived by her four children Julius, Charlotte, Delfin Jr., and Gary. She has seven grandchildren: Blanche, Maureen, Charlon, Chloe, Brent, Tiffany, and Sean. Her great-grandchildren includes Aubrey, Liam, Aria and Eric Lennox on the way.

Cecilia was born on November 22, 1923 in San Carlos City, Philippines with four siblings. She was married to Delfin Mendoza Tapalla in 1947. Cecilia highly valued education and earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Southwestern University in pharmacy, chemistry, and education. She served as a chemistry professor at Cebu Normal University and was the Assistant Dean of the College of Pharmacy at Southwestern University in Cebu City, Philippines for 25 years.

After arriving in Los Angeles with her family in 1981, she worked for Teledyne Corp., and United Airlines. She likes playing the family sport of tennis, watching the Lakers, reading, keeping updated with current events, and leisurely trying her luck at the local casinos. She loved to travel and explore and encouraged her children and grandchildren to reach their dreams.

Her family remembers her as a firm but caring mother and a loving grandmother and great-grandmother. As the matriarch, she inspired a strong bond among her large family.

A funeral service is scheduled for Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at 10 am at Pierce Brothers Crestlawn Mortuary located at 11500 Arlington Ave., Riverside, CA 92505 and interment at the Riverside National Cemetery 22495 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside, CA 92518. Reception to follow.