Rizalina Farrales

Rizalina D. Farrales was born on April 29, 1929 in San Isidro, Northern Samar, Philippines to the late Silverio Duroy and Gregoria Martinito.

Saling, as she was fondly called by her family and loved ones, went home to be with our Good Lord on Monday, January 20, 2020 to rejoin her husband, Dodong, and firstborn, Nelly. She passed away peacefully at her home in Falls Church, Virginia.

Saling's remarkable life began in San Isidro, Northern Samar, where she grew up as the third child in a family of six, with her siblings, the late Francisca (Kikay), Potenciana (Poten), and Vivencio (Biben). She loved to herald us with stories of growing up poor and harrowing experiences during the Japanese War. She enjoyed teaching and found her niche as a grade school teacher in a school in Catbalogan, Samar.

Saling also loved to sing and dance, and it was in one of the local community dances that she met the love of her life Gaudencio Q. Farrales (Dodong). As she first locked eyes with him, she realized then that his face was the face that appeared in her dream as a child as the man she was to marry. She then proceeded to marry the man of her dreams! In 1963, the whole family moved to Manila when Dodong started a new job at the Bureau of Customs.

Throughout her life, Saling was a low-key, humble, and very religious person. She was always looking up to the Good Lord for guidance and prayed the rosary all day long. She was very generous and always willing to help those in need. Saling tackled being a housewife and mother with a passion and loved to spoil her gandchildren. She was a fantastic cook and along with Dodong hosted many fun-filled gatherings at the family house in Manila.

Saling leaves behind cherished memories of 90 years to her surviving family - daughter, Nilda Dimmick; daughter, Maria Atkinson and husband, Ralph; son, Antonio Farrales, and daughter, M. Victoria Farrales; grandchildren, Toni Rae Berger, Kate Sampang, Michael Piczon, Sonny Piczon and wife, Amy, and Karen Piczon; Celine Grace and Kyra Faith Atkinson; grand-dogs Bansot Bear and Rollie Boo Boo Farrales; grand-cats Pancit and Lumpia Atkinson; great-grandchildren Erika, Dante and Camila; great-granddog Eleanor Piczon; great-grandcats Ralphie and Mango Atkinson and other relatives and friends too many to mention.