Liwanag Tulio Gomez

Ligaya Liwanag "Lily" Tulio Gomez was born in Olongapo City, Philippines on August 16, 1922 to Valeriano Tulio, an officer in the Philippine Navy and Catalina Tremor. She was the youngest of 7 children. She studied hairstyling and cosmetology at a beauty school and went on to work as a hairstylist and beautician. She would tell her children how she used to style the hair of Manila's society girls like Susan Magalona. She would later marry her childhood sweetheart, Conrado "Conring" Gomez at the height of World War II during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. She gave birth to her first daughter Lydia in 1945. Six other kids will follow all the way through 1967 when her youngest son, Mig was born.
She immigrated to the USA in 1974, settling in North Carolina to be with her daughter Hermie and to help raise her 2 grandchildren Ligaya and Oscar, Jr. One by one, she brought her children Dolly, Carmela and Lina to the States. In 1982, her husband was finally able to join her. Her son Frank followed in 1983 and then Mig a year later. Only Lydia, the eldest decided to remain in the Philippines. In the succeeding years she would see her children get married and grandchildren born. She took great pleasure in babysitting her grandchildren and seeing them slowly grow up. She worked in restaurants and took jobs babysitting, saving as much as she could to buy gifts for her grandchildren, and occasionally to treat herself to some jewelry.
Being reunited with her husband brightened Lily's life tremendously. The couple would spend as much of their time together going out, dancing, and hanging out with friends at the old Long Beach Plaza Mall. Most weekends were spent attending dance balls organized by the Luzviminda Association, a Filipino senior group. In 1994, the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows at St. Bernard Parish Church in Bellflower. Attended by hundreds of their friends and families, it would be the happiest day of their lives.
As the years passed, she witnessed her grandchildren graduate from school, get married and have children of their own. She became a widow in 2005 when, after a long illness, her husband Conring passed away.
Lily loved to sing and dance. She also loved watching her favorite soap operas like "All My Children" and "General Hospital" on TV. She loved flowers especially roses, lilies and orchids. Back when she was a lot stronger, she would take the blue line train to downtown Los Angeles to buy arts and crafts supplies to use in her sewing. But more than anything, she loved her family and doted on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Nothing would make her face light up more than seeing her grandkids visit her.
On the morning of March 14, 2015, Lily entered the gates of heaven, joining her beloved husband, Conring, and youngest great-grandchild, Lucas Sebastian. She is survived by her seven children, twelve grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.