Caridad Fullon Gonzales

Caridad Fullon Gonzales, 89, born on October 20, 1927, in Pototan, Iloilo, Philippines, passed away February 21, 2017. She resided in Santa Ana, California, at the time of her passing. Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Cypress, California.

Caridad or Inday Caring as she was fondly called, was the 3rd child of Pedro Fullon of Hamtic, Antique and Salvacion Ledesma Fullon of Pototan, Iloilo. She was a sweet child always following after her older sisters' footsteps. As a child she enjoyed playing with her siblings and looked after her younger brothers especially during the second world war. Her grandparents doted on all the grandchildren, traveled with them, had all the siblings and cousins over for lunch every Sunday that created a deep bond among them up until today.

She attended Santa Isabel College, Manila, as a boarding student and graduated with a High School diploma. Her mother's youngest sister, her aunt, was a nun and Dean of the College of Music, so almost all the girls in the family went to school there. She then proceeded to take up teaching at the University of Santo Tomas graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Education. During her college days, she helped her mother run a boarding house near the university where relatives and townmates stayed. She and the boarders developed lifelong friendships having shared home and hearth, went on picnics, dances, town fiestas, movies and out-of-town outings.

Right after college graduation, she went back to teach at her High School Alma Mater, Santa Isabel College along with her older sister Inday Fe, who taught at the College level. She also taught college courses at a couple other colleges like the San Juan De Dios College of Nursing.

She met her future husband Amador Gonzales in her hometown of Hamtic, Antique in childhood. She was beautiful with dancing eyes. Her friends called her "Charming Caring". She and Amador were the best dancers during the town fiestas. They danced the tango, cha-cha, rumba, you name it, they danced it! No wonder she won't miss her favorite TV show "Dancing with the Stars" in her retirement years.

She married her childhood sweetheart Amador in 1955. They had 4 children Marissa (Inday Queenie), Anthony Erwin (Bong), Raymund Rommel+ (Bing) and Jose' Rosello (Boyet). She taught in the local public high school (Antique National School) when Amador was assigned in Antique where she raised their children in the simple, carefree town of San Jose. Here she made many friends and lived close enough to her parents who retired in their home by the beach near the Pacific Ocean. Every week-end, the family would spend time in her parents' house where the children and their cousins would swim and frolic under the sun.

Her home was open to all; many times nieces and nephews lived with her and her family, so all her brothers' children and Amador's nieces and nephews were like her own. She helped them through school and even in finding jobs. She is everyone's second mom. She loved them and they loved her and her own children are treated with love and respect because of her kindness and generosity. Both she and Amador had the biggest hearts especially to those in need.

When her sons were of college age, the family moved to Iloilo City, where the boys attended college and still be able to live at home without boarding or living in the dorms. By this time, Amador was no longer working in Antique so Inday Caring was able to teach at another local high school, Iloilo High School.

After retiring from Iloilo High, both she and Amador left the Philippines for California to be with their oldest, their only daughter. They came just in time to help raise her daughter's son Scott, who has very fond memories of them because they taught him Filipino lullabies and folk songs in the vernacular. Lola Caring cooked Scott's favorite Filipino dishes like mongo, eggplant omelette, ground beef with vegetables, etc. Scott's love for music and good food are all because of Lolo Amador and Lola Caring's influence on him. The "old folks" at home loved traveling with the family (especially camping with church friends), eating out, going to concerts, watching shows, attending church, having family and friends for dinner. They were always present at Scott's many performances on stage, in orchestras, and in many far away venues.

When she first arrived from the Philippines, as always she enjoyed having friends and relatives over. One of the visitors was Pastor Sam who came one afternoon. They talked about the Philippines and life in the US. During their conversation, Pastor Sam asked her if she knew where she was going if anything should happen to her at any time. She pondered upon that question and was not sure, so Pastor Sam showed her in the Bible that she can be sure to go to heaven if she dies that night. She then prayed the sinner's prayer and was assured of eternal life over 20 years ago. This is the comfort we have knowing that she is in the loving arms and bosom of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

She lived a full life, helped many and raised her children and helped raise her grandchildren well. Her passing was unexpected, she just arrived from burying her second son Raymund who died last January. She was very happy to be back so she can continue to help and love her family in the States. God spared her from any prolonged or lingering illness or incapacity, so even if we grieve and miss her so much, God did the best for her in all His wisdom and love.

Her favorite verse in the Bible is Philippians 1:21 ~ "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain". Because death is losing all our earthly comforts and all our hopes in this life. But to a true believer, it is gain, for it is the end of all our weaknesses and misery and claim our reward - eternal life of bliss in the loving arms of Jesus.