Avelita Fortuna Formeloza

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see…

All these people were still living by faith when they died…

People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own…

Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.”

– Hebrews 11:1, 13, 14, 16 NIV

A celebratory prayer for Avelita Formeloza…

Abba, Father, we love and miss Avelita so much! Thank you for allowing us to experience her continuous love, fervent prayers, and selfless service with humility in imitating Jesus’s heart. We’re sure she’s wide-eyed, elated, and giddy to experience this new phase of eternity with you, Father!

At first it seems so odd to think so joyfully, but she truly embodied positivity and great faith about death because she always longed to be with Jesus. She consistently wondered out loud how it would be to cross over. Now she knows! We can visualize her joyful expressions when she plays with children, and we’re sure she has that same giddy, joyful, girlish look on her face now that the sickness is erased and she gets to see her indescribably breathtaking view from her room in heaven.

She constantly reflected, “I keep asking God to tell me what it’s like there, but He hasn’t answered me yet!” (Now she knows! Thank you, God, for answering her prayers!)

She even was humorous in her hardship. After 2 weeks of liquid diet she bluntly stated, “I’m craving chicken wings!” One would think that she was joking…but really she wasn’t. So she ate wings for dinner that day! Even in little things, she had faith.

A friend expressed that she is inspired to read obituaries even of people she never knew…It’s probably the phenomenon of a life well lived, one that impacts so many lives. It shows how one life really can matter and have lasting effects on others in a way that we may not be who we are today without her. She was always engaged and present even from far corners of the globe for all of us for baby showers, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, graduations, and more…She was always in our lives. Surely there are even many more ways she impacted our lives in which we’re completely unaware.

She lived a revolutionary life to the fullest. Just a few of her faith Hall-of-Fame-worthy moments…

• Born of Maria Fortuna and Cresencio Formeloza
• Survived by her sister Minnie Espina; preceded in transition by her brothers Orlando and Blas Formeloza
• Studied medicine at Far Eastern University in the Philippines in the 1960s
• Adventurously moved from Laguna to Manila then overseas to the state of Washington, USA to join the Sisters of Providence in contemplative prayer
• Studied at Gonzaga University in Spokane to be a Medical Technologist
• Served as the hospital laboratory supervisor at Whitman Hospital, a community hospital administered by the Sisters of Providence
• Not only survived but thrived after mitral valve surgery in her 60s with a St. Jude heart valve that lasted over 2 decades
• Traveled widely, enjoyed spending time with dear friends, and took care of them when they were ill
• Always gave generously to those in need
• Donated land so Calumpang, Laguna could have a community center and evacuation site for hurricanes and emergencies
• Observed and selected young promising leaders in the Philippines to invest in sending them to school so that they could support their families. Later siblings followed in their footsteps. It was her way of “teaching people to fish” and building familial and generational capacity. Several of them literally became teachers, posting on knowledge to other young people!
• Kept her early holy vows continuously throughout her life And even after 25+ years of retirement, she still kept a detailed daily itinerary posted on her mirror with a 6 am prayer to start the day

Her career, travel, and friends in Washington and Oregon were her local family for much of her life. Family in Georgia were so fortunate to experience her light for almost 20 years! She cherished family and friends in the Philippines and spread all throughout the world and now she gets to spend time with our ancestors before her in a new world!

Father, thank you for your persistence in using Avelita’s life as a window of hope and faith to so many. Like a mirror, she reflects one part of Your heart so others can see you more clearly.

We pray for one of her greatest wishes:

Forgiveness – She prayed that God and family will forgive her shortcomings and that family and friends would be able to forgive one another as you forgive us.

It’s not easy or simple, but it’s the greatest gift Jesus gave all of us.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

– Colossians 3:12-14 NIV

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”

– Revelations 21:4-5 NIV

Our lives are better because of her!

“The growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life…”

– excerpt from Middlemarch – George Eliot

She impacted our lives because she lived God’s greatest commands:

“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

– Matthew 22:37-40