Hazel Tapia Molina

Hazel Candido Tapia, born in Quezon City, Philippines on October 28, 1966 was the third of four children and only daughter of Alberto Tapia and Zorayda Candido, both deceased.

Her parents moved from Quezon City to Orion, Bataan where Hazel completed her Elementary Education at Orion Elementary School and Secondary Education at the Jose Rizal Institute. Hazel, a consistent honor student was an active participant of various school and church activities. Hazel was selected as Cadet Officer at her High School upon completion of the Officer Candidate School where she showed her leadership among her classmates. She was also a member of Orion United Methodist choir group called “Fisher’s of Men” where she developed her passion for Christian Ministry.

Upon High School graduation, she was accepted as a Freshman Nursing student at the Philippine Christian University Mary Johnston College of Nursing in Manila. Hazel was a dedicated and a hardworking student, she had to work in her spare time as a student worker while getting her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

After graduation from college, she was given the opportunity to teach at the Mary Johnston College of Nursing. Upon passing the Philippine Regulatory Commission’s Registered Nursing Board, in 1989, she was hired to work in the United States at the Washington D.C. General Hospital where Hazel worked at various types of Nursing Care that included stints as a Critical Care Nurse at the Intensive Care Unit.

In 1991, Hazel moved to San Diego, California upon her marriage to Jose Molina. After a few years she became a mother and was blessed with two beautiful children Jazelle and Josiah. Motherhood inspired Hazel to work as a Labor and Delivery Post Partum Nurse at Sharp Coronado Hospital, eventually Kaiser Permanente Hospital hired her as a full-time employee for several years. She worked at the Labor and Delivery unit there until her final assignment as a Charge Nurse at the Kaiser Otay Clinic Primary Care Unit.

Throughout the years of acquiring her education and building a career, Hazel poured her efforts in developing lasting friendships among her classmates and colleagues. Hazel was known for her helpfulness and eagerness to provide comfort to her patients. She was beloved by her classmates and friends for her thoughtfulness and selflessness. She was a mentor and leader at her church Women’s group were she led Bible studies and Women’s fellowships.

After almost 15 years of her battle with breast cancer, Hazel was taken by her Creator and Lord on March 30, 2015. Hazel enjoyed those precious years with her family and friends. She enjoyed traveling and visiting friends and families.

Hazel was an exemplary sister, friend, wife and mother that made a lasting impact to every person she had the pleasure to meet. Her legacy will stand the test of time and her memory will be cherished by her friends, family and loves ones forever.

Hazel was survived by her husband, Jose and two children, Jazelle and Josiah as well as her siblings Arnel, Noel and Alzor Tapia.