Filomena Villanueva Salada

Filomena Villanueva Salada passed away peacefully on June 20, 2021 with her son at her side.  She was surrounded with love from friends and family.  It was very fitting to be Father’s Day that she chose to be reunited with her loving husband Capt. Alejandro N. Salada who passed away 17 years prior.  What better present could there be than to be together again for eternity.

Long-time friends came from many distances to share their love and prayer at her bedside.

Even those that were new to her life, such as caregivers and recent friends, saw the light that glowed from her presence.  It was hard to not be drawn to her as she loved to be “mom” to everyone.  

“Fil”, as many of her friends called her, retired as the Public Health Nurse for Sonoma Developmental Center in 2000 after 22 years of service. 

She was a career nurse working in hospitals from the Philippines, to New York, to Napa, to Yountville, and then Sonoma. 

Early on in her career she decided to book a cruise from New York to return to her home in the Philippines.  The ticket she purchased was aboard a passenger/freighter ship.  The young nurse soon realized that she was not suited for the rolling seas.  Luckily, she was comforted by the ship captain.  A young, strapping Alejandro came to the rescue.

The rest is now history and led to a long life together taking on the world and establishing roots in Sonoma, CA. 

After the passing of her husband in 2004, she relocated to Sacramento to be closer to her son and grandchildren.  There she gained many close friends and became highly involved in her local parish.  Fil was a devoted Catholic and she shared her spiritual strength with everyone that met her. 

In the Spring of 2021 Filomena came back home to Sonoma.  It was here that she chose to pass on to a better place.

Filomena was predeceased by her husband Alejandro and all of her siblings.  She is survived by her daughter Madeleine, son Melchor, grandson Tyler, and grandson Trevor.   

Friends are invited to a viewing at Duggan's Mission Chapel, 525 West Napa Street, Sonoma, CA 95476 on Friday, July 2, 2021 from 9 am to 5 p.m.   A committal service will be held at Mountain Cemetery, 90 First Street West, Sonoma, CA 95476 on Thursday July 8, 2021 at 10:30 a.m.

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