My Mother, Lourdes T. Domaguing, passed away from this Earth to reunite with my Dad, Dr. Macario L. Damaging, Jr- The Love of her Life. He waited in Heaven for God to bring her Home. She peacefully died in her bed, comfortable, clean and with Dignity, with the grace that her family left behind will be secure and protected. As she lay taking her last breaths of life, torn between this world and the next, I whispered to her, "I love you, Mom, Thank you for being my Mom. It's OK... you can go be with Dad. He is waiting for you in Heaven. You can go Dancing. I love you and I know that is what you want. I am OK now, Mom. I am strong, You don't have to worry about me. I'm OK."

If I only had one word to describe Lourdes, I would call her "Fierce".  She was born in the midst of World War II, and survived by fierce prayers of her Mother, Ramona.  She was a loyal and smart child, whom her father, Alexander, fiercely trusted to count and iron the family money.  She graduated from El Centro de Escolar as the first batch of Medical Technologists.  She emigrated, although scared to the States, to make a better life for herself and study.  She graduated from Danbury University in Connecticut. Lourdes experienced the evolution of American history:  the advent of the color TV, the frenzy of Elvis, and sadly, yes, she fiercely endured the discrimination and segregation.  She often would tell me, "I saw the bathrooms marked White Men only and the other "Colored", so I didn't know where to go, so I just held my pee."

She met and married a young handsome Doctor, and he chased her fiercely. They married in the autumn of 1969 in Cleveland, Ohio.  From there they grew their family with fierce determination, despite tireless work, loss, and weather.  My mother tells of how she would walk to and from work in the snow and upstairs to their apartment when she was pregnant with Michael.  And justly as fierce to the commitment of family and marriage, she followed my Dad's military career, causing them to move to North Carolina and Florida, and eventually California.  

Lourdes was a fierce force in supporting her family back in the Philippines. She insisted and financed for her parents and eventually four of her siblings, and their families, to move to the United States.  

My mother was very generous and helped others, often unrequited.  Her unwavering support of my Brother and I, gave us Masters' degrees in our respective fields, weddings, homes, and our growth of our own families.  Her fierce determination to provide for her children and grandchildren, patients, friends and siblings are overwhelming accomplishments.

Oh, and she was fierce in her hobbies and crafts.  She took on Ballroom dancing lessons, gardening, and sewing, and decorating. Oh, Christmas is her season! She enjoyed decorating our family home beginning in September! She acquired a multitude of Dancing Santa Clauses, and made Christmas tree ornaments by hand. Her gift- giving was generous and included everyone if she could. 

Lourdes was also fiercely proud of her Chinese and Philippine heritage. She painted the house Bright Red, in honor of Good Luck in Chinese culture. The house is blended with many Philippine decor as well. She enjoyed food and celebrating at her house with Grand parties, always just wanting everyone to have a good time.  She also enjoyed Travel. She ventured to Singapore, return to the Philippines three times, and Europe to pay tribute to Our Lady of Lourdes in France, for whom she was named after.

Definitely, Lourdes was fierce in her enthusiasm for the Casino.  She would answer when someone asked her if she won at the Casino, "It's only fun if you win." Last year after my Dad passed away,  she confessed that the enjoyment of the Casino comes from, "At the Casino, you don't have to think about anything. It's a stress reliever. All you hear and look at is the machine in front of you. You forget all your worries- for just that moment."

Last year, she endured a Triple- Bypass Heart Surgery at the age of 82.  She recovered with fierce determination. We told her the Goal was to take her to the Casino.She was already up and walking the 2nd day after Surgery.  Last April 2026, she was diagnosed with a rapid-growing brain tumor. Three weeks later, we took her to the Casino for the last Adventure. She was Happy, She ate Pizza, She played the Slot Machines without limits. Enjoying the Life she was given to the Fullest. She faced the inevitable prognosis...four days later. And even then she maintained her ferocity in decison-making, detailing her wishes to be at her home. My mother passed away peacefully, clean, and without pain. Now even after death, her fierceness continues - through me- to give her the most honorable and grand farewell.