Obituary of Josefa Paredes Manriquez

Obituary of Josefa Paredes Manriquez April 23, 2012 Josefa Paredes Manriquez, daughter of Roque and Daria Paredes (deceased), passed away the morning of Saturday, April 21, 2012 in her home in Herndon, Virginia, at the age of 89. The cause of death is pancreatic cancer, with which she was diagnosed in September 2011. Josefa P. Manriquez and identical twin sister Valentina Dolorest Paredes were born on April 11, 1923 in Bauko, Mountain Province, Philippines. Her twin sister died at the age of five from dysentery. Josefa had a total of nine other siblings, only two of whom are still living: Francisco Paredes of Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, and Corazon Montalvo of Paranaque, Manila, Philippines. At the age of 18, Josefa married Philippine Army Lieutenant Romulo Manriquez on May 28, 1941 in Kiangan, Philippines, before the Japanese Invasion of the island during World War II. Josefa gave birth to her first daughter Priscilla in 1942 during their first attempt to evade capture by Japanese forces. Though Romulo escaped, Josefa and Priscilla were eventually taken prisoner by the Japanese for a period of 14 months. During this time, the Japanese repeatedly tried to convince Josefa to reveal the location of her husband who was leading the Philippine guerilla forces attacking Japanese troops in the area. However, Josefa never surrendered the information. After Philippines liberation by the American forces, Josefa reunited with her husband and moved to Quezon City. She later gave birth to Rodolfo in 1945, Josefina in 1947, Romulo Jr. in 1949, Rolando in 1951, and Bernadette in 1953. Romulo immigrated to the United States in 1953. The Manriquez family lived together on Portland Street in Southeast Washington, DC from 1966 to 1983 and moved to their final home in Herndon, VA in 1983. Josefa was known as an esteemed colleague at Hecht's Clothing Company in Washington, DC where she worked in the fine China department from 1969 to 1985 and a sales clerk at Hallmark Cards from 1986 to 1989 in Herndon, VA. She was a highly committed member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Herndon, VA Josefa touched the hearts of all who met her and her kind and generous personality made a lasting impression on people long after they made her acquaintance. Josefa is survived by her children Priscilla, Rodolfo, Josefina, Rolando, and Bernadette, and her grandchildren Jerry Pangilinan; Laura Soriano; Anthony, Joseph, and Regino, Jr. Landicho; Carmelita Hock; Rodrigo Manriquez; and Christina Manriquez. She is a great-grandmother to Andrew, Timothy, Bradley, Nicholas, and Emily Landicho; Brianna and Dustin Mohler; Vincent Hock; and Elise Soriano. She is survived by many other relatives who loved her dearly. Her children and their descendants will always hold her in their hearts.