Emma Sugui

Emma Juanita Fres Sugui, 89, entered eternal rest on February 22, 2023. Her children and grandchildren lovingly called her Mamang. Born to caring parents Vicente Fres and Josefa Suarez, Emma was the fourth child of ten siblings. Her loving parents and grandmother Angeles raised her in a devout Catholic household. Emma prayed the Rosary daily and always prayed for the sick, living and deceased. She was a member of the Charismatic group and Legion of Mary at Holy Family Parish in Artesia, CA. Through her unwavering dedication to God, she was exceptionally kind and forgiving.

Emma attended the elementary grades at Claveria Central School in Claveria, Cagayan Valley Philippines. As a child, she loved to play the harp and piano in her free time. During her highschool years at the private School of Claveria Institute, she excelled in literary competitions frequently winning first place. She graduated valedictorian of her class and during high school, she met her future husband of twenty five years, Santos Sugui. Shortly thereafter, her first daughter, Terrylou was born. Emma had help from her mom Josefa to raise Terrylou while she went on to obtain her bachelors degree in education at the Philippine Teachers College and a masters degree in education, graduating with honors.

After finishing school, she returned to her hometown of Claveria and began a teaching position at her elementary grade school alma mater teaching first graders. Her father tried to convince her to teach at his private high school, but she chose the lower grades as she believed that teaching the younger children was more rewarding. She always said, “The success of a teacher is measured by a student’s success.” During elementary school summer vacations, Emma owned and operated a sari-sari (mini-mart) for highschool students still on campus attending summer school. Throughout pursuits of higher education and her career, she also had two more children, Vincent on November 23, 1955, and MarieAllen (Maryjane) on December 23,1960. After a tenure at Claveria Central school, she transferred to Quezon City where she worked as a first grade teacher until retirement from public education and joined the Bureau of Customs as an import/ export examiner/ agent.

In 1983, she migrated to the USA and became a citizen. We were grateful to have her come to America. This was the year Terrylou had her first daughter, Carol. Emma was a very helpful grandmother taking care of the newborn, then 2 years later her grandson Christopher, and then youngest grandson Philip King when he migrated with his mother Maryjane at the age of two. When the grandchildren started preschool, she filled her days working at Fedco and then Mervyns in the Cerritos Mall. She was very humble, hard-working, and punctual. She enjoyed meeting new people, talking and interrogating the customers. After ten minutes of conversation she would know where they lived, if they were married/ had any children, if they were Catholic etc. She was a Mervyns leader in opening new customer credit card accounts. With her exemplary interpersonal skills, she was awarded as the top customer services & sales employee. After retirement she devoted most of her time caring for her grandchildren and to her faith. She volunteered her time making rosaries to be distributed all over the world.

Emma was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, and sister. She would give up everything for her children, relatives and friends. She always remembered the birthdays of all her siblings, children, nieces and nephews, granddaughters and grandsons. Emma would send a greeting card addressed “To the Queen/King of the day” or flowers for your birthday. During holidays, birthdays and parties, Emma would always encourage everyone to play Mahjong, winning the majority of the time! Her favorite TV shows to watch were NBA Laker games, Price is Right, Judge Judy, Family Feud, Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.

Emma is predeceased by her husband, Santos Sugui; son, Vincent Sugui and his wife Yolanda Sugui; her parents Vicente and Josefa Fres; and her seven siblings Vicente Jr., Lilia Fernandez, Angeles Tajon, Eduardo Fres, Jose Fres, and Kathleen Clemente.

Emma is survived by her two children: (1) daughter Terrylou and her husband Steven Wolcott, and their two children Carol, her husband Patrick Chen; son Christopher and his wife Alexa; (2) daughter Marie Allen (Maryjane) Sugui, and her son Philip King Sugui and his wife Lauren and their daughter Lorelai Marina Emarose Sugui; and grandsons from late son Vincent: Paul Vincent Sugui, Vincent John Sugui and his son Vaughn Sugui with wife Sophia and daughter Hagja Sugui. God willing there will soon be one more great granddaughter added to her legacy from Carol/Patrick in June. Emma is also survived by her three sisters Evangeline Agamata, Virginia Leyran, and Elsie Fres, as well as many cousins, nephews, and nieces.