Lourdes Mata Acosta Udo

Born in Camiling, Tarlac, Philippines, Maria Lourdes Mata Acosta Udo was one of the family matriarchs taking on the honorable roles as daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, godmother and friend. Nanay Lourdes lived a full life having served as a Private of the Women’s Auxiliary Service (WAS) 3rd Battalion, 121st Infantry at Pudoc, San Vicente, Ilocos Sur at the end of World War II in 1945.

A graduate of the University of Santo Tomás in the Philippines, she absolutely loved being an elementary school teacher and for 10 years was a young educator before coming to the United States in 1962.

As the wife of a U.S. Navy veteran, she enjoyed military life with her late husband, Ceferino V. Udo †, who served as one of the White House chefs to presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard M. Nixon before coming to Stockton in 1975.

An avid Scrabble player, master bibingka baker, and stellar seamstress, she will be greatly missed for her wit and wisdom, inexhaustible kindness, and deep love of God. She was always smiling and singing or humming random tunes including her Ilocano favorite, “O Naraniag A Bulan.”

Nanay Lourdes is survived by her children and their families: Bernard Udo; Mary Lou, Don, Donna, Marissa Savage; Annabelle Udo-O’Malley and John O’Malley; additionally, the families of her surviving sibling Joaquin Acosta and late sibilings Carmen Acosta †, José Acosta †, Agustín Acosta †, and Juanito Acosta † — as well as the extended family in her birthplace in the Philippines.