Amelia O Cua

Amelia Ong Cua - Bio:

Amelia, or Mely - as she was lovingly called by loved ones, was born on January 15, 1942 to Magdalena Balisoro and Jose Ong in Bicol, Philippines. She had nine brothers and sisters. She was a vibrant child who loved an adventure; even climbing star apple and pomelo trees, enjoying fruits on swaying branches with her sister, Avelina, while their mother was not looking. Oh, the trouble she got into when she would get caught! She attended Central Catholic High School where she excelled and graduated with high honors. She married Eduardo V. Cua on October 23, 1960, and they had five children: Tommy, Judith, Jocelyn, Eduardo Jr., and Jennifer. Being a lifelong learner, she returned to school to complete her college education and, in 1981, graduated Cum Laude from the Philippine Women’s University with her husband and children cheering her on. Shortly thereafter, she passed the CPA exam and became a board certified accountant, eventually retiring from her position as a Senior Accountant with the City of Los Angeles’ Housing Department. She was a small-town girl with big dreams - not just for herself, but for her family as well. She strived to do everything she possibly could to set them up for success. Family came first for Mely, and she enjoyed watching her family grow and expand. She looked forward to visits from her grandchildren (Jackie, Anthony, Jonathan, Andrew, Ryan, Sujung, Eduardo III, and Matteo) and great grandchildren (Matthew and Madison) and would often have red envelopes prepared for them when they came.

Mely had many passions. She loved to explore new places with her family - traveling to some place new each summer. They believed in the incomparable education that one attained by traveling. She loved to tend to her perfectly manicured garden. She also loved to dance. While her husband, Eddie, had two left feet, he enjoyed watching her line dance with their friends at the many gatherings that they attended together. She was also a basketball fan and enjoyed watching games with her grandkids, especially during playoffs and championships. She liked the Lakers and Kobe Bryant, but her most recent favorite player was SGA from the Oklahoma City Thunder.

More than anything, Mely was a woman of faith. She was simple, humble, quietly confident, and silently strong. She was grace under fire; poise under pressure; composure during chaos. Her mind and spirit were equally beautiful. She is missed. She is treasured. She is loved.