Romana Patolot Reyes

Romana Patolot Reyes, 91 years old, rejoined our Maker on July 22, 2020 due to cardiac arrhythmia. She was born March 1, 1929 in San Luis, Batangas, Philippines. She lived a very blessed life.

1945 is best remembered by many as the year of the Second World War but to us, the Reyeses, it was the year our sassy and fabulous Inay Romana (at age sixteen) married our handsome and hardworking Tatay Atoy, the late Fortunato Reyes.

Inay Romana was a real life superwoman. She excelled in everything she did and did so with grace and love. She was a hands on mom and a real better half to her husband, co-managing their farm, coconut and sugar plantation, and merchandising business.

She was only 49 years old when she became a widow. She turned all her sadness to love for her nine (9) children - Tony, Pabling, Ditha, Thelma, Logie, Carlos, Ruth, Virgil, and Gary. She made sure they grew up as men and women of integrity and character by living the values she instilled in them. She taught them unconditional love by loving them unconditionally; to help those in need by showing compassion; to support and build each other up by believing and supporting them just as much; and to have an unsinkable faith by never losing hers.

In 1977, Inay Romana migrated to the USA to join her first born child Tony. The rest of her children followed soon after. She was there to witness each of them build their own nests with the same values she taught them. She was privileged to have co-raised and enjoyed her grandchildren and great grand children. In real Inay fashion, she spoiled them with love, compassion, and nurtured them with respect and discipline. And she did all these while looking gorgeous. Inay loved life and she made sure she lived it to the fullest. She loved cooking, parties, casinos, and fashion. She made sure she always felt and looked her best - from perfectly styled hair to a stunning pair of shoes. Inay is a real tribute to the family she built - authentic, honest, kind, loving, and stunningly beautiful.

At age 55, she had a spinal cord injury. Ten years ago, she became bed ridden. But no condition, no disability, no limitation by her physical body can stop her from spreading love and encouragement to her family, extended families, and to others.

God must have been proud of her because He lent her more time to witness the successes of her children and grandchildren. It is as if God was telling her, 'here is the family your love created.'

And this is what she left behind, a lawyer, doctor, professor, accountants, scientists, nurses, engineers, realtors, businessmen and women. But more than the titles, medals, honors, and achievements, she left behind a FAMILY - a family that is solid, together, and one. This is a family that isn't just a family in name but a family in heart and soul.

She was a very proud mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, mother-in-law, and friend. Our matriarch and our pillar might be gone, but her legacy lives on and her memories are in our hearts forever.

Romana is survived by her nine (9) children; twenty four (24) grandchildren; eleven (11) great grand children; four (4) siblings; and many other cousins, nieces, nephews as well as a host of loving relatives.

The family will be holding a private visitation and burial exclusively for immediate family members at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90068.

Visitation is on Tuesday, July 28, 3:00 P.M. (PST) at the Main Mortuary.

Gravesite service is on Wednesday, July 29, 9:30 A.M. (PST) at the Court of Liberty.

"For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord."
Romans 14:7-8 NIV