In Loving Memory of Alicia Montalbo: Support for Her Family

Dear friends and family,

It is with deep sadness I am writing on behalf of my family to share the passing of our mother, Alicia Montalbo. On September 24th, 2024, Alicia passed away from congestive heart and liver failure. She passed away peacefully in the arms of her children after a day filled with faith, family and love during her final moments. Alicia battled a long string of illnesses throughout her life and faced multiple surgeries and chemotherapy. Despite everything, she possessed a brave heart, strong mind, and resilient spirit.

In her 63 years of life, Alice was a dedicated wife, loving mother, aunt, sister, grandma, and friend. My mom had a spunky, confident personality and never failed to speak her mind. She was loud and fiery but honest and passionate. Her sense of humor was corny but still great.

She loved watching Filipino teleseryes and animated films and listening to their soundtracks. Her favorite song to replay and hum to was “Merry-Go-Round of Life” from the Howl’s Moving Castle soundtrack. Her singing voice was charming. She would always cheerfully burst out into song and often sang oldies love songs. Singing karaoke with her was so much fun, and our favorites to sing together were from The Carpenters and Frank Sinatra.

The Filipino dishes my mom cooked were excellent, delicious and fed the soul. She also had a creative side and a wonderful green thumb for plants. She enjoyed creating adorable succulent arrangements.

Alicia’s faith in the Lord was unwavering as she was a devoted Catholic. She was a good listener (a little chismosa hehe) and a big-hearted, caring, beautiful person. She dearly loved her daughters, Melissa and Portia Montalbo, and her grandson, Sora Rodriguez. She loved her husband, Melvin Montalbo, and took care of him full time when he battled stage IV lung cancer and passed away in April 2023.

My sister, Portia, and I are heartbroken of our mother’s passing; however, our mom is reunited with our late father in eternal paradise. Our mom endured a long history of sickness but remained courageous, tough, and positive through it all. Alicia’s love was fierce and profound, and she brought warmth and joy to those who had the privilege of knowing her.

The funds raised will go towards covering final expenses including cremation costs, moving fees, and a celebration of life to honor her memory. We understand times are tough for everyone but any contribution, no matter the amount, makes a significant difference whether it is sharing this campaign with others or a donation to help ease the financial burden during this difficult, emotional time.

On behalf of my family, we thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts for your support during this journey of grief and healing for both our parents. Your kindness, compassion, and understanding means the world to us. Stay safe, take care, hold your loved ones close, and keep making beautiful memories.