Jovita Geronimo Duran

JOVITA GERONIMO DURAN, 88, was born Jovita Ramos Geronimo in Pulilan, Bulacan, Philippines on February 15th, 1936.  Her parents were Vicente Geronimo and Engracia Ramos, and she was the fifth of six (Milagros, Nieves, Jose, Guillermo and Rosario).  She raised seven children (Angel, Alfred, Ariel, Amy, Abel, Aurora and Arnold).    

Her children can attest to the fact that she had "the patience of a saint" and never lost her temper with them or even raised her voice.  Always supportive and encouraging, always smart and kind, she was proud of all her children.

She loved cooking, gardening, taking care of her family, watching Filipino programs on tv, and good laughs over the phone with friends and relatives.  She always sacrificed her needs for the good of her family.

In 1980, Jovita made the sacrifice to leave her children and moved to America to explore better opportunities to provide for her children at home.  She worked odd jobs including being a nanny, baby sitter, photo processing clerk, insurance clerk, data entry clerk until she obtained her teaching credentials.   She taught preschool and kindergarten children for 20 years until her retirement.  She loved teaching and the kids around her.  She was proud and an accomplished teacher.

Jovita better known as Nanay and Grama to her family will forever be remembered as a selfless, altruistic mother who always had a smile, even when times were tough.  She had a quiet strength.  She never complained and always looked to a better future.

Jovita was ever calm and serene in her Catholic faith.  From her childhood forward she had a special place in her heart for Blessed Virgin Mary.  Her character and temperament can best be shown from the time she was hospitalized in June of 2023 until her passing into heaven.  Jovita had every right to cry or even fall into depression after long days and months of hospitalization, but instead she loved and lived with courage, strength, and hope every moment she was given, neither hard times nor pain would rob her of who she was.  Always graceful and encouraging, until GOD called her home.

She resided in Burbank, CA and is survived by her husband, Robert Duran, her children and grandchildren.

Services will be held at Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills on March 14th, 2024 for Visitation and Viewing from 9:00 AM ~ 8:00 PM at the Faith Chapel, and Funeral Mass at the Church of the Hills on March 16th, 2024 from 9:30 AM ~ 10:30 AM followed by Interment at Vale of Hope Ground.

Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills is located at 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90068.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

2 Timothy 4:7