Carmen ‘Susan’ A. De Jesus Ongoco

De Jesus Ongoco

August 15, 1948 - September 29, 2021

Carmen Asuncion De Jesus Ongoco, also affectionately known as ‘Susan’ by many, passed away at the age of 73 on September 29, 2021, in Houston, TX.

Susan was born on August 15,1948 in Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines, the daughter of Antonio R. and Carmen (De Guzman) De Jesus. She only had one younger brother named ‘Tony Boy’, but she fondly called him “Kuya”.

She attended St. Paul’s Parañaque from kindergarten to high school where she graduated as the class valedictorian.

Susan attended St. Theresa's College of Quezon City during her first year, then transferred to St. Paul College Manila. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance in 1969. She then went on to earn her MBA from Ateneo de Manila University Philippines in 1974.

She worked at Libingan ng mga Bayani as a federal employee doing accounting.

Eventually she was called by the Central bank of the Philippines as a bank examiner. She accepted the central bank position, starting as a bank examiner.

She was married to Benjamin C. Ongoco on October 20,1973 in Makati, Philippines. Immediately after receiving her MBA, she filed for a US immigrant visa, which was approved several years later with her family. They later moved to the US in 1981.

Susan continued in the banking industry for 18 years and served as Vice President of Chase Bank and Vice President/Controller of Metro Bank. She then became a successful entrepreneur and investor. She owned and invested in apartment complexes, a home health practice, and three Arby’s franchises.

Susan remained very close to her elementary school friends throughout the years.

Joy, Didit, Beth, Therese, Corito and Susan called themselves the ‘Juniorettes of Isabella’ and then years later Susan referred to themselves as the ‘Seniorettes of Isabella’.

She enjoyed hosting parties and get-togethers, whether it be with her Bowling Group or Sto. Niño Prayer Group friends. Susan was involved in the Filipino community in Houston, TX and even served as president of the Tagalog Association of Texas from 1996-1998. She also volunteered for Memorial Area Ministries.

Susan often travelled to the Philippines to see her cousins, brother, niece, nephews and many grandnieces and grandnephews. She genuinely enjoyed every visit and loved sharing lots of laughs and fun with them.

Susan loved any time she could spend with her twin grandchildren, Madison and Matthew, whom she would spoil any chance she could get.

Susan enjoyed traveling, eating out, baking, spending time with her family and friends, shopping (she loved purse), watching movies and K-dramas.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Carmen De Jesus, and father, Antonio De Jesus. She is survived by her husband of nearly 48 years, Benjamin Caragay Ongoco; her two sons in Houston, TX, Benjamin J. Ongoco and his wife Jennifer Ferrer Ongoco; and son Michael E. De Jesus Ongoco; her grandchildren Madison Ongoco and Matthew Ongoco; her brother Antonio De Jesus Jr. in Cebu, Philippines; her nephews and niece, Atoi De Jesus and wife Emma De Jesus in Cebu, Philippines; Kathy Go and husband Paul in Surigao, Philippines; and Dave De Jesus and wife Rica De Jesus in Cebu, Philippines.

A funeral visitation will be held on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021 at Brookside Funeral Home-Cypress Creek located at 9149 Highway 6 North, Houston, TX 77095 from 5-9 p.m.

A funeral mass will be held on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church located at 6646 Addicks Satsuma Rd Houston, TX 77084 from 12-1 p.m. A reception will follow.