Juanita Fidel Domondon

Juanita Fidel Domondon was born June 21, 1920 in Koalalua, Hawaii. She was the third of five children--two brothers and two sisters. Juanita was a beautiful, compassionate, sensitive, sweet, and cheerful spirit that brought a smile to everyone she encountered. At the age of 14 in the Philippines, a young Juanita, who had just moved from Hawaii and could not speak any Philippine dialect, met her husband, Dr. Enrique Domondon, a dentist, when she had a toothache--She was his patient. Although Enrique could take care of her tooth in one visit, he set other unnecessary appointments so that she would keep coming back. Two months later they married and from those dentist visits sprouted a 68 year marriage, with 9 children,14 grand children, and 23 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

As a wife of an active high ranking military officer, Juanita was surrounded with an elite and luxurious lifestyle. Juanita entertained and hosts dignitaries at her home, domestic and foreign diplomats and their families, and the Prime Minister of Japan, yet she remained modest, humble, and real with her sweet and cheerful personality. With her lifestyle, the things that she talk about most and her most proud of are the simple day to day people who volunteers and makes a difference to the society. Charity work was very important to her. Her charitable work was also passed down and encouraged to her 9 kids and grandchildren.

As a mother, she was very strict, but very SELFLESS, caring, giving without remembering and a true nurturer. Admired by most. Also, she is known to her daughters as "maarte ang mama"--- words that we use lovingly as a complimentary "fun-loving, cute-beautiful way of expressing herself on what she does in entertaining and her fun personality. Juanita loved dogs, and loved to play mahjong, cook, clean, garden, and sew. She saw most of her girls dresses when they were young. Sound of Music was her all time favorite movie. When she and her family moved to San Francisco, CA, although her lifestyle in the US was different in the Philippines, her knack for giving still remained. She volunteered at SF General Hospital helping sick children with aids and other illnesses, and dedicated a lot of her time babysitting her grandchildren, taking care of her 3 dogs, and being a dedicated mother and loving wife. Every where she went, it was like she made a friend along the way.

Juanita's personality was infectious. Cheerful and giddy with fire and humor, Juanita was a ray of sunshine to everyone she encountered. As a wife, a mother, a grandmother, and great grandmother she was the giver, the nurturer, the matriarch of the family. As a wife of a Colonel, during WWII and mother of nine, she remained strong and her faith remained. "Behind every great man, stands a great woman"--This holds true. As a woman with strength, integrity, class, elegance, and grace. Juanita lived a long and full life by her husband Enrique and 9 kids: Enrique Jr., Teresita, Reynaldo, Mary Alice, Rebecca, Perrine, Virgie, Robert, and Evelyn. (and 7 dogs throughout the years).

Maybe she's not with us now, but she leaves her print and personalities with her 9 children.

What Juanita's children are saying to her:
(from the oldest to the youngest)

Enrique Jr. - Me, my brothers and sisters love you VERY much Mama!
Tessie - Classy and elegant and strength, AWESOME.
Ronnie - Lets go Cache Creek Mama!
Alice - Loving, full of cheer, giving, compassionate...
Rebecca - Always there for me, for us, ALWAYS!
Perrine - Smart... Thank you for being your secretary- road runner, mentor..
Virgie - My mama is PERFECT! My greatest fan! My cheerleader,... lets go shopping...
Bobby- Mama's boy, gentle, sweet.. Sound of Music...
Evelyn - You're our beam of light.. wisdom, our star... WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH MAMA. WILL MISS YOU!!!