Helen Esperanza Catubig

HELEN ESPERANZA CATUBIG (1946-2016) DEVOTED WIFE, LOVING MOTHER & DEDICATED TEACHER Helen Esperanza Catubig was born on August 18, 1946, to Monico Villatuya Esperanza and Patrocinio Reodica Romana in Makati City, Philippines. Raised in a family with four brothers and one sister (Amor, Harry, Samuel, Ronaldo, & Ruby who passed away on Ash Wednesday 2015), Helen grew up in what she described as “an innocent, wonderful life in the Philippines.” Helen’s upbringing helped her overcome the obstacles of living in the U.S. She attributed her success in America to her father who encouraged her to go to America and “get that education, despite the unknown hurdles.” Also, Fely Bacani (her mother’s sister who passed away in 2015) was a “moving force” in coming to America. Helen earned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of San Francisco and later earned an M.A. in Education while raising kids. In 1969, she met and fell in love with Ernesto Antalan Catubig, a wounded U.S. Army combat veteran who lost his right arm in the Vietnam War. “I will be your lost right arm,” she said to him. On June 6, 1970, Helen and Ernesto became one through the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in San Francisco. This year, they celebrated 46 years of marriage. They testified to the great beauty and joy of marriage and family life. All 5 children were born in San Francisco: Marissa, Daniel, Tove Ann, James John, and Stefanie Jane. They moved to Vallejo in 1988. The parents instilled in their children the importance of God, family, education, and service. In a text message in September, Helen wrote to one of her kids, “No matter what happens, you are my best kids in the world. That, never forget when the time comes.” She and Ernesto taught their kids how to pray the rosary even into their adulthood. Helen retired in 2005 after 35 years of teaching for the San Francisco Unified School District (Balboa High; Denman Middle; Longfellow Elementary) and is listed in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. She served as an exceptional leader in numerous Filipino American community organizations in the SF Bay Area (e.g., Filipino Community of Solano County, Inc.; Fil-Am Retired U.S. Armed Forces Association; Sekder Day Pangasinan; Luisiana Association). Helen had a long battle with multiple illnesses, including Diabetes, Kidney Disease, and Congestive Heart Failure, to name just a few. Over the past year, Helen was in and out of the hospital and rehabilitation center numerous times, which became longer and more frequent over the past three months. She thought of others, especially her grandkids, during her illness. Helen returned home from the hospital on Friday, October 28. It was the Feast of St. Jude, patron saint of impossible cases, and Tove Ann’s birthday. During the ride home in the ambulance, Tove Ann quietly prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for her mom. When Helen arrived in the family room, family members immediately said, “You’re home, Mom! Welcome home, Mom!” because they knew that it was her dying wish to pass peacefully in her own home. Within minutes, as her son Daniel hung a crucifix above her bed, Helen took her last breath. Stefanie Jane described Helen’s final moment as if “she took her last breath as a sigh of relief” for she was finally home. Helen passed away during the Jubilee Year of Mercy. VIEWINGS Thurs., Nov. 3 * 1-9pm Twin Chapels Mortuary, 1100 Tennessee St., Vallejo 94590, (707) 552-6696 Fri., Nov. 4 * 2-5pm St. Catherine’s Catholic Church, 3450 Tennessee St., Vallejo 94591, (707) 553-1355 PARISH SERVICES & VIGIL Fri., Nov. 4 * 5:30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Holy Hour w/Devotional Prayers & Benediction St. Catherine’s Catholic Church, 3450 Tennessee St., Vallejo 94591 Fri., Nov. 4 * 7pm First Friday Mass St. Catherine’s Catholic Church, 3450 Tennessee St., Vallejo 94591 Fr. Gerome Hernandez, MSP (The family asks for prayers at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The Mass intention will be for Helen Catubig.) Fri., Nov 4 * 7:30pm Vigil (to begin the Funeral Rites of the Catholic Church) St. Catherine’s Catholic Church, 3450 Tennessee St., Vallejo 94591 Deacon Dennis Purificacion (Helen’s son-in-law) [Refreshments will be available in the Parish Life Center from 2:30-9:30pm.] FUNERAL & RITE OF COMMITTAL Sat., Nov. 5 * 10am Funeral Mass St. Catherine’s Catholic Church, 3450 Tennessee St., Vallejo 94591 Fr. Resti Galang, MSP Rite of Committal (Interment) All Souls Catholic Cemetery, 550 Glen Cove Rd., Vallejo 94591, (707) 644-5209 Fr. Resti Galang, MSP Special Request: Before she passed away, Helen requested that people please wear the bright colors of purple, white and yellow at the funeral and avoid wearing black as much as possible. Thank you. HELPING THE CATUBIG FAMILY Many people have asked how they can help during this difficult time. Before Helen’s death, the national cemetery in Dixon was first chosen since there were no expenses for veterans. However, after Helen’s passing, Ernesto changed his mind and decided he wanted the family to be closer to Helen’s gravesite at All Souls Cemetery in Vallejo instead. This meant an unexpected significant increase in funeral costs. Your assistance will help greatly during this time of need. Your donations can be deposited/wired into Ernesto Catubig’s Wells Fargo account (Routing #121042882 & Account #610-664-8477). Contact him for more information @ (707) 655-6804. Thank you

Helen Esperanza Catubig

August 18, 1946 - October 28, 2016