Jaime "Jimmy" Hilao, MD, 73, of Chicago, Illinois, passed away on Friday, May 16, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.
Jimmy was born on March 4, 1941 in the Philippines to Alejandro and Catalina (Roque) Hilao. He graduated from the University of the Philippines Medical School in 1964 and was an active member of the Phi Kappa Mu fraternity. He enjoyed reading, doing crossword puzzles, and spending time with family and friends.
Jimmy is survived by his daughter Jamie (Henry) Hilao, daughter Lynn (Paul) Tubalinal, son James Hilao, granddaughter Mikayla Tubalinal, godson and nephew Gabby Gabriel, and sisters Trining Parado, Luz Hilao, Alice Tan, Hilda Hilao, and Vicky Nungester. Jimmy was a loving father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend to all.
Visitation will be from 3:00 until 9:00 PM at Cumberland Chapels Funeral Home, 8300 W. Lawrence Avenue, Norridge, Illinois, on Thursday, May 22. A celebration of life service will be held at the funeral home at 11:00 AM on Friday. Jimmy will be laid to rest at Irving Park Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.
UPDATE:
Tribute donations to the Lung Cancer Foundation or the Cancer Research Institute may be made in Jimmy's memory.
To view the slideshow presented at Jimmy's wake, please click here.
Tributes
Leave a tributeIn behalf of my family and your friend Genevieve Noble Kim and her family, we would like to remember your father with prayers and the hope that today in honor of your Dad's second year Death Anniversary, he may be resting in peace and harmony with the Lord !
Take care Jamie.
Love,
Tita Divina Lasala- Noble
I offer prayers of comfort and healing to your family and children who love you very much. Rest in Peace Ninong!!!
As a young girl, I idolized my dad; he was a dark, complex, and mysterious intellectual, which others may have viewed as intimidating but which fascinated me. To me, my dad could do anything, and I made it my job to please my father and make him proud. He’d get frustrated when I couldn’t solve a math problem, so I’d study longer to prove to him I understood the assignment. He’d speak of his favorite authors, so I’d choose to read their novels for my book reports. He’d be disappointed when I couldn’t answer his vocabulary questions, so I took his advice and learned one new word every day. I remember feeling devastated when my dad told me his favorite instrument was the violin, because I played the piano and flute. Everyone knew my dad was a brilliant scholar, and I wanted so badly to live up to his expectations.
As I became older and learned more about my father, my love for him deepened. My dad grew up with little means, and I have always been intrigued by his journey of becoming an accomplished physician in the United States. When I went to Manila for the first time as an adult in 2001, I visited the poverty-stricken area where my dad once lived, toured the campus of his alma mater, and truly experienced our family culture in the Motherland. It was then that I developed an immense appreciation for all that my father had done for our family. As a child, I coveted the nice toys and video games that my peers had, while I read books and played 'library' with my brother and sister. When we’d visit other Filipino doctors, they’d have big houses and fancy cars, while my dad remained a simple man. Even after his successes in the States, my dad’s core values remained steadfast, and he wanted his children to understand the importance of education, the value of a dollar, and the pursuit of excellence in everything one does.
My dad was a man of few words, but the words he chose were wise and thoughtful. It took me some time to really get to know him, as he rarely spoke of his past throughout my childhood. Over the last few years, our relationship matured. My dad and I bonded often over drinks, and he’d relay anecdotes of his adventures throughout his life. I‘d listen in awe and admiration as the mystery of my dad’s past unfolded. Let me share a few of his stories:
- Dad reminisced about his fraternity brothers from the University of the Philippines class of 1964, the impact they had on each other’s lives throughout college, how they remained in touch over the years & the numerous alumni initiatives to which he contributed, even until the end;
- Dad spoke fondly of his time in Laos throughout the 60s, shortly after he graduated from medical school, where he participated in Operation Brotherhood, providing medical services to Laotian refugees;
- Dad adopted an underprivileged family in the Tondo, the same area in Manila where he once lived, and he made sure to visit them as often as he could.
It was through these stories that I realized: my father not only devoted his life to helping his patients, he dedicated his life to helping people:
- He was the rock of our family, providing immediate and extended relatives with financial and emotional support;
- He continued to treat sick people in the Philippines, even after he retired as a physician who practiced for over 40 years;
- He was very generous to those less fortunate, a trait his college classmates emphasized via the multitude of email messages I received after my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer.
It will take me some time to fully understand and accept that our dad suffered so much and eventually lost his 3-½ month battle against cancer. One of my dad’s favorite authors, William Faulkner, said, 'Between grief and nothing, I will take grief.' So, I will grieve…
But I am grateful for the courage and strength he had during his final months. I will take solace in the fact that, six days before my father passed while he was attached to what seemed to be an endless amount of tubes, I asked him how he was and he replied: 'To tell you the truth, I’m on top of the world!' I will cherish the parting gift he left my siblings and me by verbalizing his love for us for the first time, and by telling us, in his own way, how proud he was of us.
Dad: You were the strongest, smartest person I know, and your tenacity to face even the most difficult challenges inspired many. Thank you for being the most incredible father I could have ever wanted. I miss you so much, but I know that you are now watching over us, continuing to guide and protect us from heaven. I imagine you relaxing on a beach - drinking San Miguel or Old Style, feasting on crabs, tackling tough crossword puzzles or watching a Colombo marathon. Someday, we shall meet again, and we will dance together like we once did long ago when I was a little girl to 'Let Me Call You Sweetheart.' I will continue to strive for excellence in all I do, in your honor.
You will always be my hero. I love you, Dad.
I am very thankful to Ninong who was instrumental in my survival due to his insistence of me to stay in Manila. He concluded that I had exhibited the symptoms of a brain tumor patient after Mama Trining relayed her obse, he came back to Balut wiyrvations to him. If I had gone to Davao, I would have died. The Lord used him to fulfill His purposes for me. He also bought medicines for me from the US, specifically the Minirin, Desmopressin Acetate. I am very thankful for that! I enjoyed talking with him, sharing my different stories. I will truly miss him because he was a dear friend… Ralph
Froi
I am SO very sorry to hear of the loss of your Dad and loved one. No words can take the pain away or offer the comfort that I wish I could give all of you. Dr. Hilao, I am glad that I had the opportunity to meet you at Art In The Afternoon ;) I know how much you mean to Jamie, Lynn, Jay and your family. May you rest in peace and may a part of you always be in the hearts of your children and family..I know you are missed dearly..may you always be the angel at their sides...big hugs and much love to all of you!!!! XOXOXOXOXOXO
Emily and family
Our deepest symphathies to all in your hour of bereavement with Jiimmy's passing. He was a dear friend, a wise and above all, a kind physician who continued to minister to our countrymen in Bicol. Indeed it was a privilege to have known him. Sweet alohas to the family and Aloha ahui hou my colleague and friend Jimmy.
I will surely miss Jimmy, your Dad, his wit, sense of humor and kindness. He and I e-mail each other directly and exchanged stories.I know that he is a Civil War enthusiast. When we lived in Virginia while I was in Anesthesia Practice, I invited him to come visit us because we lived near the Manassas Battlefield Park. He is the only one of my male classmates that calls me" Miss Quetulio" 50 years after graduation from Medical School. Your father is a genius . From our exchanges of e-mails ,I learned a lot from him. My husband Jimmy is his Fraternity Brod and is very close to him and was really very sad by his passing. Jimmy, May you rest in peace.
Tatay Lex taught us all to call you by that name as it is the one he knew you by. In doing so, we were all able to embody the same overseeing love and care he had come to know. We were reminded of these wonderful characteristics from the very first time we called you by name, every time we did so afterwards, and especially at the last. You and your legacy should know that we will continue to attribute the same defining love of yours whenever we hear, speak, and think of you.
You will be greatly missed, Ninong.
All of our love,
The Parados
My deepest sympathies for your loss. I know that he was an amazing father. I feel fortunate that I had the pleasure of meeting him - if just briefly - last year at the AWBW event. I am sending prayers and keeping you in my thoughts during this very difficult time.
Kami ay taos-pusong nakikiramay sa pagpanaw ni Jimmy !!
Nasa pugad na Siya ng ating maykapal at ipinagdarasal namin
ang kanyang katahimikan duon sa kanyang himlayan!
Ipinagdadasal namin ang kanyang walang hanggang ala-ala !!
Sumasainyo,
Bente at Danilo R. Aberin
In behalf of the Lasala and Kim Family, we would like to extend to you and your family our deepest sympathy. We know you've lost a very dear Dad. I have known your Dad from way back at St. Elizabeth Hospital, he was a quiet man, but quite a respectable member of the staff. I will offer him prayers for the repose of his soul. In behalf of my brother Dr. Noel E. Lasala who also knew him at St. Elizabeth Hospital, his family and friend, Dr. Marilim, who worked with your Dad, they are extending their deepest sympathy. Take care and love you so very much, Jamie. Love always, Tita Divina
Please accept my deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences. I may have only met your irreplaceable Patriarch, my Fraternity Elder Brother, briefly here in Manila in one of our Fraternal gatherings, but it was an inspiring, intellectually-charged interaction althroughout! It was indeed an honor and a privilege to have shaken his generous gentle hand! Thank You senior Brod! Your corporal vessel may have left us , but your memory, your legacy , your PHI SPIRIT, is among us! GODSPEED AND FAREWELL !
Freddie Calado
PHI KAPPA MU '84A
UPCM '87
My condolences to you and your family. Jaime is my brod in the PHI KAPPA MU. I have not met him but rest assured he will be remembered as one of our esteemed brods. I wlll pray for the peaceful repose of his soul.
I was admitted to the PHI KAPPA MU in 1968 and graduated from the UP College of Medicine in 1973.
Edwin Camacho Malixi