Francisca P. Montoya

Francisca P. Montoya, 78, passed away to join the Lord on Saturday morning, March 24, 2012, with her beloved husband, Venancio E. Montoya, oldest son Dr. Vernon P. Montoya, and three of her six grandchildren present at her bedside.

Affectionately called “Fran” by her friends and relatives, she was born on December 9, 1933 in Malolos, Bulacan, Philippines, to Inocencio Pineda and Concepcion Aldaba. A retired Registered Pharmacist, she graduated from the Philippine Woman’s University in Manila in 1956 and the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in Boston in 1970. Immediately after graduation, she passed the Board of Pharmaceutical Examinations and worked for Boston City Hospital for sixteen years, where she was in charge of preparing hyperalimentation and other medical solutions. She moved with her family to Palm Bay, Florida in June 1986 and has lived in the same house in Lockmar Estates. She retired in 2005 as Pharmacy manager of Winn-Dixie Pharmacy at 190 Malabar Road in Palm Bay. She was a charter member of the Greater Palm Bay Senior Center and the Filipino-American Association of Brevard County, where she was very active in its past fund raising activities.

She and her husband were avid cruisers and have cruised around the world twice, first on the Queen Mary 2 for 95 days in 2007 and on the Queen Victoria in 2009 for 105 days. They have also toured the South African countries of Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia. They have explored the different islands of Cebu, Bohol, Camiguin, Davao, Palawan and El Nido in the Philippines in 2010 and have explored the northern provinces of Luzon in 2011.

She left behind her loving husband of 54 years, Venancio E. Montoya, sons Dr. Vernon P. Montoya of Gainesville, FL, Bayani P. Montoya (married to Marizelle), of Mendon, MA and Sonny P. Montoya (married to Lynn) of Melbourne, FL; six grandchildren, Dr. Simone P. Montoya (married to Eric Nicholas), of Seattle WA, Anthony G. Montonya and Andrew G. Montoya, both from Mendon, MA, Michael P. Montoya of Gainesville, FL, Christopher C. Montoya and Gabby C. Montoya of Melbourne, FL and one great-grandson Silas Carter Montoya of Gainesville, two brothers, Inocencio A Pineda of Waukegan, Illinois, Dr. Eladio A. Pineda of Manila and one sister Eulalia P. Merin of Quezon City, Philippines.

A visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Sunday, April 1, 2012 with a celebration of her life starting at 7 p.m. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday April 2, 2012 at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Palm Bay.

grandson Silas Carter Montoya of Gainesville, two brothers, Inocencio A Pineda of Waukegan, Illinois, Dr. Eladio A. Pineda of Manila and one sister Eulalia P. Merin of Quezon City, Philippines.

A visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Sunday, April 1, 2012 with a celebration of her life starting at 7 p.m. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday April 2, 2012 at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Palm Bay.