Obituary of Lourdes Fangonil Alacbay

HERNDON, VA - Lourdes Fangonil (Lou/Ludy) Alacbay, 76, died on July 24, 2021 from heart complications.  Born to the late Oscencio and Isabel Bucaycay of Trancoville, Baguio City, Philippines on March 21, 1945.  She attended Baguio City High School, received her B.S. Pre-Med from the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, and her B.S. Medical Technology from Centro Escolar University, Manila, Philippines.

She immigrated to the United States in 1966 pursuing a career in the medical field that lasted over four decades. Her tenure included time at Georgetown University Hospital, St. Barnabas in Livingston, NJ, Virginia Beach General Hospital, Norfolk General Hospital, Leigh Memorial Hospital, Reston Hospital Center, and Sibley Memorial Hospital.

Lourdes met Armando Alacbay in Virginia Beach, VA after being named godparents to the child of mutual friends, Rudy and Angee Mariano. The two married in 1970 and later moved to Herndon, VA to raise their children.

Lourdes lived her life like a firecracker. She unabashedly embraced the unknown and made it her own. When she first arrived in the US, she had a bag of belongings and some cash, and didn’t know how to use a public pay phone. She immersed herself in American culture, boarding with various elderly women who would host her for a few months as she moved from hospital to hospital along the Eastern Seaboard.

When she settled at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington DC, there wasn’t a person from janitor to hospital management who didn’t know Lourdes, or as she was fondly called Lou. She was the loudest voice in the room, the biggest personality, and for many the friend they would call for advice or support. 

She loved her Dallas Cowboys, much to the chagrin of the rest of her family rooting for the hometown favorite. And, most recently, she loved reconnecting with her childhood friends. Known as Ludy to those closest to her in her early years, she enjoyed reminiscing with her classmates, recounting their adventures from grade school to high school. Having experienced similar life challenges, she found comfort learning where life has taken her old friends over the years.

Lourdes is survived by her devoted husband of 51 years, Armando P. Alacbay; daughter, Maribel Aber and her husband Robert of Marco Island, FL; son, Armand B. Alacbay, Jr. and his wife Dandi of Centreville, VA; and her sister, Dr. Eleanor F. Bucaycay of Sacramento, CA.

A Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 1, 2021 from 6PM to 8PM at Adams-Green Funeral Home, 721 Elden St, Herndon, VA. Funeral Services will be held on Monday, August 2, 2021 at 11 AM at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 750 Peachtree St, Herndon, VA.  Afterward, the burial will be at Chestnut Grove Cemetery in Herndon, VA.