Teresa Fortes Mabitazan Balawen
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Rosary for Teresa Fortes Mabitazan Balawen, 84, Lawrence, will be at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 7, 2017. A Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. with visitation to follow until 6:00 p.m. all at Warren-McElwain Mortuary. She passed away Sunday, January 1, 2017 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. She will be cremated and will be interred at Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus and Columbarium in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Teresa was born June 29, 1932 in Tubao La Union, Philippines the daughter of Teodoro and Petra Fortes Mabitazan.
She worked as a crew restaurant worker for McDonalds for over 20 years.
Teresa married Vicente “Vic” Bugtong Balawen in 1957 in the Philippines. He preceded her in death November 22, 2013.
Other survivors include three daughters, Norma Schmidt (Karl) Lawrence, Linda Balawen Gulane (Julieto/Jojo) Lawrence, Susan Balawen Thomas (Danny), Lawrence; son, John Balawen, Lawrence; daughter-in-law, Vilma Balawen; seven grandchildren, Vanessa, Nikolaus, Juler, Justin, Jeddalyn, Vincent, Hannah; and great granddaughter, Mikay Gulane.
Teresa was a very sweet lady with kindness to a fault. She always had a big smile on her face. She took pride in her decades of work at McDonald’s where her smile inspired others to the point she gained a following of ‘coffee regulars’. She is remembered for her years of loving care of her bed-ridden husband, Vicente during his battle with illness. Teresa loved gardening and no matter where she went, someone would come up and say “Hi Teresa”; as she loved talking to people.
Memorials may be made in her name for Philippines Churches through Susan Balawen Thomas and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.
Kurt and I will always remember Teresa as a sweet woman, always smiling and ready to laugh. She took great pride in caring for her family and everyone else around her. Some of our fondest memories are of watching Teresa work in her garden and enjoying the wonderful foods she and Norma prepared in the kitchen.
I only met Teresa a few times but considering how well Norma turned out she must of been an amazing a woman.
I am so sorry for your loss. She was a lovely, sweet and thoughtful lady. We wish we had known her better. Our thoughts are with you during this sorrowful time.
Teresa was the nicest person at McDonald’s on 6th street. She had a great sense of humor and joked around. She without fail, always recognized a customer and took time to visit with them. So many times we would visit about the Phillipines. Always a smile ALWAYS!
Her going away party was sad for her but moreso for the customers. And she was dedicated to her husband as she always shared that with me.
What a wonderful asset she was to the Dobski Family and McDonalds. Bless her family for having Teresa in their lives!
Rest in peace my beloved auntie teresa by bening and lita mabitazan family , Go ,guanzon , jamal ,…condolence family Linda Balawen gulane Norma Schmidt Susan Thomas and john balawen.
Rest in peace my beloved auntie teressa by family go , guanzon , jamal , mabitazan fly high auntie you are the newest angel of god
Tita Susan and Auncle Dan,
I am deeply shocked at the sudden death of your beloved Mother Teresa.My heartfelt Condolences to you and your family I wish I was there to support you in this difficult time.
Be strong aunt Susan and Auncle Danny…
Susan/Danny,
I am extremely sad to hear about the demise of your mother please accept my deepest condolences to you and your family.May God give you all the strength you need.
Our heartfelt and deepest sympathy and condolences to the bereaved family of aunt TERESA.It pains us so much auntie for your sudden death.Your short stay here in the Philippines when you came to visit mother Caridad,we thought mother will be first to depart due to her rectal cancer but it went to the opposite way.This is a big question auntie Why?What happened?You have shown us your kindness and passionate heart iyon pala parang nagpaalam kna sa amin.We bade you goodbye and may you rest in peace.You will always be remembered.We love you so much.
Deepest condolences to Balawen family. May the soul of Auntie Teresa be at peace with our Heavenly Father.
Deepest condolence.lola teresa will always be missed by her family in the philippines.may you rest and peace lola.
May you rest in peace auntie teressa we will miss you so much fly high auntie teressa
May you rest in peace lola teressa we will miss you so much fly high lola teressa
Rest in peace po lola teresa balawen..condolence po to all family balawen,gulane,schmidt,thomas. from rosana guanzon family.irene jamal family.brenda go family.bening and lita mabitazan
Our deepest condolence to Balawen family. May they find peace and tranquility as they pass through this bitter lost of a wonderful mother.
We love you and we will miss you nanang…