This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, Cecilia Cantero Laserna Pastrana. We will remember her forever.
She passed peacefully at 12:45pm on December 30, 2020 from Alzheimer's disease.
Cecilia is predeceased by her spouse Apolinario Trinidad Pastrana, her sons Audie and Albert, her parents Diego Cirilo Cantero and Paz Laserna Cantero, siblings Leticia, Diego and Judith Cantero. She is survived by her children, Alex (Marilou), Aileen, Apolinario (Holly), Alvin (Karla) and Annelyn and daughter-in-law Vicky; and her siblings Antonio, Fernandita Tatad and Vicenta Rimando and half sister Felícitas Cawaling. Cecilia was an educator and scholar and worked in various institutions including UNESCO, and the University of the Philippines in Diliman Quezon City.
In the 1980s, she immigrated to California for a better future for her family, begetting two generations of American-Filipinx grand children and great grand children aside from her grand children in Manila.
Her story of exceptional courage and resilience is reflected in her many stories as a young girl surviving the Japanese occupation in the Visayas, as a Fulbright scholar in the deep South in the 1960s, as an English teacher and PhD educator in Manila thru the late 1970s, and as a widow immigrant to California in 1980. In pursuit of a better future for her family, she exchanged the fruits of her academic achievements to start at the bottom. Her sacrifice and inspiration is reflected in the many descendant faces of builders, healers, artists, entrepreneurs, educators , nurturers, and dreamers who carry her legacy forward.
Finally she was the avid adventurer who would climb mountains, cross continents and oceans and trek across the globe. She inspires us with a life fully lived. She was an independent and exceptional woman ahead of her time.
Erika Tatad
We will miss you soooooo much, dearest Auntie Cely ❤ Sending lots of love to you Alvin and Karla, Alex, Aileen, Pol and Holly, Annelyn and Vicky ❤
January 1, 2021 FB
We will miss you soooooo much, dearest Auntie Cely ❤ Sending lots of love to you Alvin and Karla, Alex, Aileen, Pol and Holly, Annelyn and Vicky ❤
January 1, 2021 FB
Sandra Hueske
Alvin, our deepest condolences to your family. We wish you lots of strength in this difficult time.
January 1, 2021 FB
Alvin, our deepest condolences to your family. We wish you lots of strength in this difficult time.
January 1, 2021 FB
Sue Fiskin Potter
Beautiful tribute to your beloved and remarkable woman of the world who gave so much of herself to so many. Pol and Holly we are sending you hugs and love knowing that her light that has shown so bright will continue to be with you. ❤️❤️❤️
January 1, 2021 FB
Beautiful tribute to your beloved and remarkable woman of the world who gave so much of herself to so many. Pol and Holly we are sending you hugs and love knowing that her light that has shown so bright will continue to be with you. ❤️❤️❤️
January 1, 2021 FB
Karen Grycel
What a remarkable woman . Warmth and condolences to you and your loved ones.
January 1, 2021 FB
What a remarkable woman . Warmth and condolences to you and your loved ones.
January 1, 2021 FB
Eveline Pilon
Deepest condolences to you and your family
Nancy Pilon
So sorry to hear that sad news.
January 1, 2021 FB
Deepest condolences to you and your family
Nancy Pilon
So sorry to hear that sad news.
January 1, 2021 FB
Suzanne Jones
So very sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers for you and your family.
January 1, 2021 FB
So very sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers for you and your family.
January 1, 2021 FB
Angela Marie
WHAT AN AMAZING WOMAN AND LEGACY SHE LEFT BEHIND...LOVE YOU AND POL AND AM SENDING YOU MY LIGHT AND LOVE...
January 1, 2021 FB
WHAT AN AMAZING WOMAN AND LEGACY SHE LEFT BEHIND...LOVE YOU AND POL AND AM SENDING YOU MY LIGHT AND LOVE...
January 1, 2021 FB
Kris Pilon
Wow, thank you or sharing info on this amazing woman ho sounds like has live an amazing life. A life cut to short by that horrible disease. My deepest condolences to you and Pol and his family.
January 1, 2021 FB
Wow, thank you or sharing info on this amazing woman ho sounds like has live an amazing life. A life cut to short by that horrible disease. My deepest condolences to you and Pol and his family.
January 1, 2021 FB
Liz Pacosa McEvoy
Holly and Pol we are thinking about you both. Sending love
We are so so sorry
January 1, 2021 FB
Holly and Pol we are thinking about you both. Sending love
We are so so sorry
January 1, 2021 FB
Laurie Ann Salomon Kuhlmann
My condolences to the family. God Bless and may she rest in love.
January 1, 2021 FB
My condolences to the family. God Bless and may she rest in love.
January 1, 2021 FB
Natalie Owens
Beautiful soul and beautiful memories. Thank you for sharing this❤️
I am sending my love, light, and may God send comfort to you and your family
January 1, 2021 FB
Beautiful soul and beautiful memories. Thank you for sharing this❤️
I am sending my love, light, and may God send comfort to you and your family
January 1, 2021 FB
Bethany Haller
So sorry for your loss. She sounds like an incredible human. Sending love.
January 1, 2021 FB
So sorry for your loss. She sounds like an incredible human. Sending love.
January 1, 2021 FB
JoAnna Goode
Holly and Pol I’m so sorry for your loss. She certainly had a full life and many accomplishments.
January 1, 2021 FB
Holly and Pol I’m so sorry for your loss. She certainly had a full life and many accomplishments.
January 1, 2021 FB
Sheila Cantero Raptis
Such an amazing woman! Rest In Peace dear Auntie Cely, Thank you for all that you have done for the family.. I trust you and Dad are enjoying the reunion in heaven with loved ones. prayers and well wishes for your journey in spirit ...missing you both very much! xoxo my heart is with you Alvin Pastrana, Karla C Pastrana Pol & Holly Pilon Pastrana Aileen C Pastrana Vicky Pastrana Audie Pastrana, Annelyn
January 1, 2021 FB
Such an amazing woman! Rest In Peace dear Auntie Cely, Thank you for all that you have done for the family.. I trust you and Dad are enjoying the reunion in heaven with loved ones. prayers and well wishes for your journey in spirit ...missing you both very much! xoxo my heart is with you Alvin Pastrana, Karla C Pastrana Pol & Holly Pilon Pastrana Aileen C Pastrana Vicky Pastrana Audie Pastrana, Annelyn
January 1, 2021 FB
Shane Van Meter
So sorry for your loss uncle Alvin. Our thoughts and prayers are with you guys.
January 1, 2021 FB
So sorry for your loss uncle Alvin. Our thoughts and prayers are with you guys.
January 1, 2021 FB
Abbey Mumford
Oh Alvin and Karla I am so sorry! I am honored to have known her, and I wish we could be there with you to celebrate her amazing life!!
January 1, 2021 FB
Oh Alvin and Karla I am so sorry! I am honored to have known her, and I wish we could be there with you to celebrate her amazing life!!
January 1, 2021 FB
Francesca To
Loved her adventurous spirit, her quick wit, and her sense of humor. She, and her wonderful handwritten letters and cards, will be sorely missed. Hugs, cousins.
January 1, 2021 FB
Loved her adventurous spirit, her quick wit, and her sense of humor. She, and her wonderful handwritten letters and cards, will be sorely missed. Hugs, cousins.
January 1, 2021 FB
Joey Sokolowski
Sending prayers for all. We're grateful for you last weekend to say goodbye. God bless.
January 1, 2021 FB
Sending prayers for all. We're grateful for you last weekend to say goodbye. God bless.
January 1, 2021 FB
Lauren Penndorf Haskin
Oh my! I am so sad with you. May your memories with her make you smile. BIG hugs to you both
Patrick Haskin
So sad to hear this. What a great woman. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
January 1, 2021 FB
Oh my! I am so sad with you. May your memories with her make you smile. BIG hugs to you both
Patrick Haskin
So sad to hear this. What a great woman. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
January 1, 2021 FB
Michelle Sampson
I am so very sorry to hear about the passing of your mother in law. May she Rest In Peace and comfort for all eternity. My prayers to you and your family.
January 1, 2021 FB
I am so very sorry to hear about the passing of your mother in law. May she Rest In Peace and comfort for all eternity. My prayers to you and your family.
January 1, 2021 FB
Maureen Smith-Vogus
So sorry for your loss. Such a beautiful woman, inside & out. Please give Pol my condolences
RIP
January 1, 2021 FB
So sorry for your loss. Such a beautiful woman, inside & out. Please give Pol my condolences
RIP
January 1, 2021 FB
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Recent Tributes
Gallery
Taking a stroll with her mama... ❤

Christmas in Wrightwood CA all her children except for Alex

Visiting Banaue rice terraces 1995

Taking a stroll around Bear Lake Rocky Mtn Natl Park 2005






Recent stories
Memories... postcards, brochures, ticket stubs etc
As I sort through her drawers and boxes of documents, i run across a large box full of memorabilia. I remember how she had started numerous times to organize her huge trove of photos and keepsakes into more manageable categories for placing into albums.
She clipped articles, names of places she visited, saved flight boarding tickets, museum stubs, photos and postcards and had placed them in envelopes labeled by location and dates. She had identified weddings, roadtrips, cities visited, national parks and tourist destinations... all the trips memorable and important to her.
It is great to see trips she's taken with family and others and how she must have enjoyed all those trips. I find it amusing and comforting that i do exactly the same thing! ❤
She clipped articles, names of places she visited, saved flight boarding tickets, museum stubs, photos and postcards and had placed them in envelopes labeled by location and dates. She had identified weddings, roadtrips, cities visited, national parks and tourist destinations... all the trips memorable and important to her.
It is great to see trips she's taken with family and others and how she must have enjoyed all those trips. I find it amusing and comforting that i do exactly the same thing! ❤
Remembrance by Agnes Pastrana Villanueva
How can I ever forget Manang Cely. She was my dorm guardian and mentor at U. P. Dilliman. Having separated from my family for the first time during my freshman year, my parents entrusted me to Manang Cely and Manong Naring because they’re family. I was a frequent visitor in their faculty residence in the Dilliman campus. Their children then were only Alex, Audie, and Albert.
After college, I left for the States. A few years after Nong Naring passed, Nang Cely and her young family came to the U.S. as well. They had a short visit with us, then they relocated to Los Angeles. Over the years, Nang Cely moved with her children to different states, yet we kept in touch.
After I retired, I’ve been going back and forth to the Philippines. So we lost touch with each other.
However, a few days before this Christmas, I suddenly just thought of Nang Cely, wondering where she is now, and how she’s doing ... only to find out a few days later that she has passed. That news really hit me. All the memories came back, memories that I hold dear in my heart because they were beautiful memories of Manang Cely.
Alex, Aileen, Pol, Alvin and Annelyn, please know that your loss is also our loss. She will forever be remembered in our hearts. My family joins me in prayers for your Mama’s repose.
Love,
Auntie Agnes Pastrana Villanueva
Thanks Auntie Cely & family
Back in the late 80s, my father Diego Cantero Jr. (Auntie Cely’s younger brother) migrated to the USA, myself together with my sister Sarah and my 2 half sisters Ria & Rachelle, were headed to Chicago to meet our stepmom and 2 brothers, luckily my dad decided to stay for a few days in Los Angeles to do some sight seeing for us girls, as it was our first time in this new and amazing place.
Auntie Cely and family lived in a tiny apartment, and surprisingly took all 5 of us in. Knowing my Dad, money was very tight, but took the opportunity to give us girls the chance to enjoy LA for a few days. For my Aunt and cousins, to invite us and look after us, is something I appreciated more and more everytime i think about it. They gave us such a warm welcome. I can’t remember anymore how we fitted but all I could remember, was that one of my cousin’s bedroom was in a closet, and I thought, wow - how cool was that! It was so much fun spending time with our cousins Alvin & Karla, Pol, Albert, & Audie. Dad took us to Universal Studios and thanks to our cousin Pol, not only did he come with us, he arranged some snacks and drinks for the family in a backpack and carried it himself. I was moved by the thoughtfulness, hospitality and generosity of care. Such a nice memory, i will never forget. Thank you so much, Auntie
Auntie Cely, I can only imagine how wonderful the gatherings you and my Dad will have in Heaven with all the family and friends, you have missed all these years. Prayers of thanks to God for that you have been given a place in His home. Amen!
Auntie Cely and family lived in a tiny apartment, and surprisingly took all 5 of us in. Knowing my Dad, money was very tight, but took the opportunity to give us girls the chance to enjoy LA for a few days. For my Aunt and cousins, to invite us and look after us, is something I appreciated more and more everytime i think about it. They gave us such a warm welcome. I can’t remember anymore how we fitted but all I could remember, was that one of my cousin’s bedroom was in a closet, and I thought, wow - how cool was that! It was so much fun spending time with our cousins Alvin & Karla, Pol, Albert, & Audie. Dad took us to Universal Studios and thanks to our cousin Pol, not only did he come with us, he arranged some snacks and drinks for the family in a backpack and carried it himself. I was moved by the thoughtfulness, hospitality and generosity of care. Such a nice memory, i will never forget. Thank you so much, Auntie
Auntie Cely, I can only imagine how wonderful the gatherings you and my Dad will have in Heaven with all the family and friends, you have missed all these years. Prayers of thanks to God for that you have been given a place in His home. Amen!