Emeteria B. Raga

“The true measure of all our actions is how long the good in them lasts.” – Queen Elizabeth II

Emeteria B. Raga (“Emy”), age 92, of San Jose, CA and Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines, passed away gently and peacefully on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, surrounded by loved ones.

We lovingly called her Queen Emy for a reason. She was not only beautiful and strong, but also courageous, resilient, and inspirational. She always dressed elegantly and completed her royal look with majestic hair and makeup.

An explorer of the world, Emy traveled to numerous places across the United States and internationally as well: Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Mexico, and Canada. At the age of 80, she even hiked Diamond Head in Hawaii in flip flops.

Emy is survived by her son, Edgar Raga, and daughter Edna Raga. She was the daughter of Sinforoso Bomagat and Dionisia Mendoza. The family lineage has been very proud to call themselves Filipino and showcase and share their Filipino culture.

She joins her king – Agapito Raga – as they continue their reign in heaven. They started their love story in the 1950s and got married in 1953 in Guadalupe, Makati. She taught modern mathematics at Fort Bonifacio Elementary School for 10 years (1968 – 1978).

Agapito and Emy immigrated to the US in 1978, first landing in Pittsburg, CA, before moving in 1979 to their next and ultimately final city of San Jose, CA. Once in San Jose, Emy worked at Becton Dickinson for 18 years before retiring from the company in 1998.

Emy has 5 grandchildren – Ryan, Ray, Rainier, Diana, and Lea. Emy has 6 great grandchildren – Maddie, Jack, Ava, Maddox, Callie, and Maya.

One gift she shared with all of us was her wonderful love for mahjong. She was particularly great at it and used it to keep her mind sharp! She was playing and winning even the weekend before her passing.

Emy was the youngest of 8 siblings – Bernard Sr, Eugenia, Patricia, Rosalina, Emilio, Consuelo, Pedro – and joins all of them in heaven.

She loved tending to her garden, shopping especially at TJ Maxx/Marshalls, and watching her favorite game shows Deal or No Deal and Family Feud.

Our hearts are full knowing that Emy lived a fulfilled life. She told us countless stories of WWII and soldiers and tanks going through her city in the Philippines. We watched her cross numerous stages in coronation of being queen. She danced to Michael Jackson and Bee Gees and really enjoyed disco music.

With her passing, the kingdom mourns but continues. We are heir apparent to love and lessons she has left behind as we now preserve the legacy that she has bestowed upon us all.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.oakhillfuneral.com for the Raga family.