Addie
Adelaida was born on December 26, 1950 in the Philippines. Her parents were Andres and Marina Macasieb. She had two sisters and two brothers – Remedios, Felipa, Arsenio, and Arvin. She married Brumeo (Bonnie) Domantay on December 12, 1971. Together, they had nine children – Christopher, Dorothy, Edelyn, Famela, Gerald, Herbert, Irish, Ivy, and Jackielou. They also had seven grandchildren – Kayleen, Lucas, Maxine, Nicole Emma, Osbourne, Olivia, and Penelope.
Beautiful. Strong. Kind. Generous. Loving.
Daughter. Sister. Cousin. Aunt. In-Law. Friend.
Wife. Mother. Grandma. Superwoman.
Just a few words to describe Mama.
Mama was beautiful, inside and out. She had a smile and presence that lit up a room. Throughout her life, Mama displayed kindness and generosity to everyone that she knew. She was always willing to lend a helping hand. Many people would come to her for her advice and as Papa always said, “Mama is a problem solver.” Also, one of the things that mama always did was send balikbayan boxes to the Philippines to share and take care of family. In our most recent trip, she sent several boxes in advanced so by the time she got there, she had pasalubong for everyone on her list and anyone who would come to the door. Mama always had a list of people to take care of and no one was ever left out. She always taught us to share our blessings.
Mama graduated from Agno Valley College and has since played an active role helping the community with her old classmates and friends. She was an active participant of the Good Samaritan, which plans medical missions and outreach programs. Mama supported several children in school by providing supplies like notebooks, pencils, backpacks, and other necessities. Mama’s heart was so big. It extended to so many people, including her nieces, nephews, and grandchildren in the Philippines. She loved them as her own.
Mama embodied strength, both physically and emotionally. In 2014, mama was diagnosed with stage-3 cancer (Multiple Myeloma). For six years, she fought hard and many were not aware of her condition because she didn’t want people to worry about her. She knew with her trust in God, love and support of her family, and the strength she had within herself, she could get through anything. In 2018, she went into remission despite the odds that were stacked against her. Mama had the courage to battle cancer head on and still take care of those around her. She persevered and did not lose hope. She always assured us that she will be okay. We drew our strength from her.
Mama was a loving wife for over 48 years. She and Papa met at a young age in Malasiqui, Pangasinan. With their love for each other and God, they got married in December 1971. Since then, she kept her commitment and was the best wife and partner to Papa. They shared many hugs, kisses, tears, and laughter. So much laughter. Like every couple, they argued but every argument ended with a smile. They knew their love was greater than anything. They were the epitome of soulmates. Mama and Papa practically spent every day together since they’ve been married. From working together to going to the grocery store, they were inseparable. As they went into retirement, they found more ways to enjoy each other’s company. They would sneak out for random date nights, trips to the casino, and shopping at the outlet. They stood by their vows to be together for richer, for poorer, in sickness, and in health til death do them part.
Mama was the heart of our family. Even with nine kids, she knew each of us like the back of her hand. She had this unique sense of knowing when something was wrong with her children. She knew exactly when to call when you needed her the most. She had the answers for everything. She was our personal nurse when we were sick, our therapist when we were sad, our cheerleader when we needed encouragement, our light guiding us when we were lost. Mama always made sure we ate our food. She always made it known if we were not eating enough or eating too much. She always tried to find a wife for her sons. She was always trying to make sure we were prepared for the future. Mama accepted us for all our faults and loved us unconditionally. We are who we are because of her.
Mama was the grandma that every kid would want. She spoiled her grandchildren with chocolate, chips, ice cream, clothes, toys, and whatever else they wanted despite what their parents allowed. Just like she knew her children’s different personalities, she also knew how unique each of her grandchildren are. She always made sure she had Filipino ketchup for Kayleen’s food. Her phone was always charged for Lucas to play his games. She always bought Maxine girly dresses and shoes. She always had sour candies for Emma. She loved listening to Ozzy sing his songs. She always reminded Papa to make Olivia’s favorite food – egg and rice. She would secretly give Penelope a bottle for milk and all the chocolate she wants. These kids are very lucky to have experienced her love because there’s no better love than from Mama.