Matilde Umipig Banez
December 26, 1926 - August 25, 2023
Obituary
Matilde Umipig Banez, age 96, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother; was called home to the Lord on August 25, 2023. She was born in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, Philippines on December 26, 1926. She is the youngest in a family of 8 and she was preceded in death by her loving husband Jose A. Banez; parents Guillerma Arreola and Dionisio Umipig, her siblings in the Philippines: Gerardo, Florencia, Jovencia, Pastor; Marcelino ( Seattle), George (Seattle) and Francisco (Hawaii).
She grew up and was raised in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur and graduated from the prestigious Philippine Normal College in 1949 with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE). She taught at the elementary school grade level in her hometown for 21 years in the Philippines. She has a Masters of Education and a Masters in Language Arts and Reading from Seattle Pacific University and was a well-respected educator both in the Philippines and in the Seattle Public Schools. She immigrated to the U.S. in 1970 on a Professional Visa to teach in the USA. She continued her education career with the Seattle Public Schools for 23 years, retiring in 1995. She was instrumental in helping launch the Bilingual Education Program in the Seattle Schools in the mid-70s. and was director of the URRD, Urban Rural Racial and Disadvantaged program. Matilde worked with the Seattle Public Schools as Department Head of the English as a Second Language also known as the Bilingual Department at Cleveland High School for many years, and then became a Lead Resource Teacher of the district’s Title IX Program. She taught ELL students Social Studies, Science and History at both Cleveland and retired at Ingraham High School. She made multiple trips to Washington DC with her students as part of the Close up Foundation. She spent many years after retirement as a Medical Interpreter at Harborview Medical Center, where some of the attending doctors and nurses recognized Matilde and fondly remembered her.
She was a member of; Barrangay Chorale; International Drop-In Center, the Young Ones; FAWOW; past President and long time Board of Trustees of the Sons and Daughters of Santa Maria Inc.; past Vice President of the Filipino Educators of Washington.
She loved traveling going on cruises to the Caribbean and to Mexico. Went on Pilgrimage to the Holyland/Jerusalem; Rome/Vatican, Fatima/Portugal, Lourdes/France; Turkey, Disneyland, etc.; and to Japan when she was 80 years old.
She was a devoted Catholic. She would pray various novenas every day, and tuned in to the EWTN catholic channel most of the day; attending their daily mass, rosary and divine mercy prayers, and other programing the channel offered. Her favorite passions after retiring and her husband Jose’s passing were the 3 Cs. Going to Church for her devotion to our God, the Cemetery to visit her husband and relatives, and the Casino, but there is a 4TH C, the Children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Her precious moments that she enjoyed the most in later years were being around her children Lila, Evelyn, and Joselito, her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. She emphasized to the grandchildren that education is very important in life. She was an educator till the end.
Matilde is survived by her three children, Lila Marie (Gary Chin); Evelyn (Anthony Jackson); Joselito (Dana) Banez; grandchildren, Melissa Chin (Byron Lillie), Joshua Chin; Mikhail, Daynon, Jared, and Rachel Jackson; Emily, and Nicholas Banez; great-grandchildren Calvin and Connor Lillie.
Mom you will be missed but not forgotten…..We love you and you will always be in our hearts forever….
“Our hearts are broken at the loss of our dear mother/aunt. Thank you all for visiting this site and sharing kind words and memories. Life won’t be the same without Mom/Aunty, but we feel comforted knowing that she lives on in the hearts of many.”
Aunty, “Your life was one of selflessness and love. You will always be remembered.” We love you. Marce & Minda
May your soul rest in peace and may perpetual light shine up you Aunt Matilde.
May your soul rest in peace and may perpetual light shine upon you Aunty Matilde.