Ana Marie Ramos Yaplee

Ana Marie Ramos Yaplee, 57, born on September 13, 1956, in Manila, Philippines, passed away July 14, 2014. She resided in Bakersfield, California at the time of her passing. Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, CA.

Ana was born in Paranaque, Manila, Philippines on September 13, 1956 at home. She was the oldest daughter of Remigio and Florezinda Ramos. She attended St. Paul College of Paranaque, Philippines for her elementary and high school education. Subsequently, she attended Manila Doctor's for college and then Far Eastern University for an RN degree in 1978. Her journey to the United States began in Houston, Texas when she was recruited by the Harris County Hospital District focused in labor and delivery and neonatal I.C.U. nursing.

In 1982, she met then medical student, Steven Yaplee at Jefferson Davis Hospital in Houston, Texas. Steven and Ana married in the Mountain View, California after his Internship year at Baylor College of Medicine. They moved to New Orleans, Louisiana where Steven completed his ophthalmology residency and fellowship. After the completion of training in New Orleans, they moved to Bakersfield, California to join a thriving Ophthalmology practice in 1990. They have been married for 30 glorious years and have three loving daughters: Stephanie, Brittany, and Natalie.

Ana was actively involved in St. Phillip's Sunday school classes groups, Bible Study, and Religious Education . She was integrally involved in Steven's practice as the office administrator of the Triangle Eye Institute (T.E.I.) and the nurse manager of the Pacific Coast Surgical Center (P.C.S.C.) while on chemotherapy for many years.

Her personal interests include cross-stitching and crocheting, singing, traveling around the world, dining at the finest restaurants around the world, and spending time with her family and her many friends. She had an extreme passion for watching collegiate and professional sports, as well as, an incredibly lucky ability at the game of Roulette. Ana was a fabulous cook and made her legendary Thanksgiving feasts for many years, and she even took lessons from many famous chefs and an apprenticeship at a famous restaurant in Las Vegas.

Her true passion for life was demonstrated through her loving devotion to her best friend and husband, Steven and through the unconditional mentorship and support of her children. Her greatest self-accomplishment was successfully raising her children to be as kind, respectful, and full of life as she was.

She maintained a most incredible outlook during her arduous twelve-year battle with breast cancer. Well known at CBCC (cancer center) as the center's "Celebrity", she made lunch meals for the staff and constantly maintained her zest for life with her charming personality and warm smile. She approached her disease with grace and truly lived in the now.

Ana is survived by her beloved husband, Steven, her daughters Rose, Stephanie, Brittany, and Natalie, her brothers, Remigio, Jr., Bernard, Norman and her sisters, Elizabeth and Christine.

In lieu of flowers, Ana requested donations in her honor be made to: The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, The American Cancer Society and UNICEF