Cecilia Berry

Cecilia Berry, affectionately known as Cecile, passed away peacefully on April 24, 2026 at the age of 87. Cecile was born in Iloilo, Philippines on December 9, 1938. She was the second of eight children born to Moises and Consolacion Villaret.

After completing her high school education, Cecile attended the San Pedro College of Nursing in Davao City, Philippines and began her lifetime career in nursing at the San Pedro Hospital, followed by the Davao General Hospital. In 1965, Cecile traveled to the Netherlands as part of an exchange program between the Dutch and Philippine governments. She was one of the first 24 nurses in the program.

After working at Montreal General Hospital in Canada and Cedar Sinai in Los Angeles, Cecile returned to the Philippines to finish her Bachelor of Science in nursing. While there, Cecile met her late husband Edmundo (Ed) Berry and the two married in 1975. Cecile and Ed immigrated to the United States in 1975 and settled in Anaheim Hills, California where she was blessed with two children – Earl and Colleen. Cecile and Ed were prominent members of the local Filipino American community and active in the Filipino ministry of San Antonio de Padua Catholic Church in Anaheim Hills.

Between 1979 and 2004, Cecile worked at Kaiser Medical Center in Anaheim, California. On August 25, 2004, Cecile retired from Kaiser after 24 years of service to devote her time to caring for Ed after his health declined following a heart attack and stroke. After her dear Ed passed, Cecil kept busy with church volunteer work, attending retreats, and working with Christian family programs to deepen her faith. Cecile also took part in a pilgrimage to the Holy Land – Israel, Jordan, and Egypt.

Cecile will be remembered for lifetime of service, unwavering faith, and devotion to her family, friends, and community. Cecilia is survived by her sisters Chita Lacuesta and Cora Phayakalas, son Earl Berry, daughter Colleen Berry-Taylor, son-in-law Trey Taylor, granddaughter Margot Taylor, and her nieces and nephews.