Adelaida Torga Dela Cruz's Obituary
Adelaida Torga Dela Cruz was born on May 18, 1930, in San Roque, Malinao, Aklan, Philippines to parents Exequiel and Encarnacion Torga. She was the eldest of 5 children and, from a young age, prioritized caring for and protecting her younger siblings: Floriana, Maria Lolita, Leon and Necitas. Adelaida took her last breath on Earth and her first breath in heaven on December 27, 2022, in her beloved home while surrounded by her loving family in San Diego, California.
Aida prioritized family above all else. Family was the most important thing in her life. Aida quit high school to start working to help her Mother, Encarnacion, and Grandmother, Victoria, provide for and take care of her younger siblings. With the support these determined women provided, together they met the needs both at home and at school for her four siblings. Encarnacion instilled in Aida, values that she would later pass on to her children and grandchildren, that ‘material possessions and wealth can be taken away, but the knowledge you learn in school and your life’s experiences can never be taken.’ It was important to Aida to provide the resources so her siblings could go to the best schools in the Philippines.
In January 1953, Aida met her future husband, a handsome and gentle man named Julian Dela Cruz. On May 4, 1954, the couple married in Baclaran, Paranaque, Philippines, and began their life together. A life which would take them from Manila to Honolulu and finally to San Diego. The couple welcomed their first two children, Julian Jr. and Victoria, while living in the Philippines. From April 1958 - 1961, the Dela Cruz family lived on the Naval base at Pearl Harbor, on Oahu. During their time on-island in Hawaii, Julian and Aida welcomed their third child, Ernest. Aida and Julian decided to leave Honolulu for San Diego because of the more favorable land ownership in California. In 1961, the family of five moved from Honolulu to San Diego where Julian Sr. was stationed at the Naval Air Station in Camp Pendleton. Julian Sr. would commute to Camp Pendleton every day until he retired from the United States Navy. They welcomed their fourth child, Grace, after settling into life in San Diego.
Aida and Julian Sr. were the first of their families to successfully immigrate to the United States. Together they worked hard to buy a home, support their children and to send money to help family in the Philippines. It was Aida’s dream to bring her siblings and their families to California to share in the American dream. Julian Sr. agreed wholeheartedly with his wife’s vision. One by one, over the course of several years the couple was able to bring everyone to California. As one family member immigrated and integrated, they would, in turn, help to bring the next family member and so it continued until Aida’s entire family was together again. She always credited “the guidance of the Lord and the opportunities He provided that equipped her to accomplish everything she was able to do.”
Aida especially loved caring for children. She immediately stopped working when her first grandchild, Jessica, our Punkin, was born. Aida continued to care for her beloved nieces, grandchildren and many, many friends’ children throughout her lifetime. She and Julian Sr. would pick the children up from school, teach them life skills, help with homework as best they could, and always made sure everyone was well fed.
She was a humble, yet courageous entrepreneur, who was kind, patient, loving, understanding, generous, loyal, grateful, and confident. Aida prioritized family above all else. She would do anything to protect and provide for her family. With arms wide open, she welcomed everyone into her home and treated them like family. This was especially true of her beloved, adopted son, Kevin Mai and his family: Phavan, Alan and Rasna.
Aida did all she could to help others throughout her entire lifetime. She was a person of tremendous character; someone who was respectful and had integrity. She believed in investing in relationships with her family and dear friends. Great Grandma Victoria instilled in Aida that “Kindness goes a long way.” Aida took her Grandmother’s advice to heart and treated everyone with kindness.
Aida was a respected and loving Daughter, Sister, Cousin, Mother, Aunt, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother and friend. Her legacy and memory will live on through her beloved children, 8 Grandchildren, 10 Great-grandchildren, her siblings, their children and grandchildren. She will also be remembered by all of her friends and the lives she touched with her kindness and generosity throughout the years. It is evident that she will forever be missed, but never forgotten. May she rest in blissful eternal peace with her loved ones who are already with her in Paradise.
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