Erlinda T Reyno

Erlinda was born on November 12, 1928 in the town of Dolores in the province of Abra in the island of Luzon in the Philippines. She was the youngest daughter of two children born to Joaquin and Paulina Turqueza. Her older sister was Loradita Teneza.

Erlinda’s mother, Paulina, passed away shortly after the end of World War II. In 1946, Erlinda left the Philippines to be with her father who had moved to Oahu, Hawaii and remarried to Andrea Turqueza. Besides Loradita, Erlinda had a half brother, George Turqueza, and a half sister, Esther Tangonan. Other siblings include a step brother, Bonaficio Ramos, and step sisters, Mary Oania and Rosita Reyno.

Erlinda graduated from McKinley High School in Oahu in 1948. She met and married her husband of 39 years, Bernardo Reyes Reyno, in Oahu in 1950. Bernardo and Erlinda had three children, Bernardo Reyes Reyno Jr., Freddie Reyno and Rosalinda Yamasaki.

In 1956, our cousin, Norma Remata, came to live with our family. She lived with us for over nine years. Norma refers to Erlinda as her “Hanai” (Hawaiian for adopted) mother. Our mother regarded Norma as one of her daughters. We have always regarded her as a member of the family.

Erlinda was preceded in death by her husband, Bernardo Reyes Reyno, her son, Freddie Reyno and her grandson, Eric Reyno.

Erlinda is survived by her son, Bernardo Reyes Reyno Jr., her daughter, Rosalinda Turqueza Yamasaki and her “Hanai” daughter, Norma Jane Remata. She is also survived by Siblings George Turqueza and Bonaficio Ramos, Grandchildren, David Alesna, Brian Alesna, Kevin Reyno, Sean Remata, and Kimberly Vea and Great Grandchildren, Nicolas Ramsubhag, Jaiden Alesna, Tiffany Remata, Skyler Remata, Samantha Remata and Maddox Vea.

Erlinda had many different occupations over her life interspersed with periods where she lovingly took care of her children while her husband served overseas in the US Navy. She worked over 19 years in retail sales for the Marine Corps Exchange. She was especially proud of her work in the food service department of Tri City Medical Center for over 25 years. She retired from Tri City Medical Center on July 6, 2013 at the age of 84. Our sisters and I have the dubious distinction of having retired from our jobs before my mother retired from hers. When asked why she worked so long, she responded (jokingly – I hope) that it was be away from her children for that period of time. I guess she wanted the peace and serenity that came with working and being away from us.

Besides work, our Mom always liked to be busy and active. One of her passions was tending to her garden especially her roses, cymbidium orchids and Filipino vegetables. Our Mom did have a green thumb. She also enjoyed traveling. One of the trips she talked about often was when she with Auntie Esther Turqueza and Auntie Mary Oania visited Uncle George Turqueza while he was stationed in West Germany. She regarded the chandelier purchased in Austria during that trip as one of her most favorite possessions. Other countries she visited include The Philippines, England, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Canada and Mexico. Places in the United States include the New England states, California, Hawaii, Virginia, Washington, D.C., New York City, Seattle and New Orleans.

She enjoyed going camping with her family to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, Manzanita Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park, Mammoth Lakes, Palomar Mountain, Julian and Lake Cuyamaca.

Other hobbies include sewing and fine crocheting which she enjoyed for over 60 years.

While Mom liked to be active, her most endearing quality was her regard for others above her own self. She always made sure that others were taken care of before she would think of herself. I found this to be truer in her later life as she faced the challenges of Parkinson ’s disease. She was more concerned with our personal well being over her own health. If we can be one per cent of the person that she was, we will be very happy.

Services for our mother will be held on June 27 and 28 of 2017. A viewing will be held on June 27, 2017 from 5 to 8pm at Eternal Hills Mortuary in Oceanside, California. A Mass will be conducted on June 28 of 2017 at 1pm at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Vista, California. Funeral services will begin after Mass at 2:30pm at Eternal Hills Cemetery in Oceanside, California.