Elizabeth B. Catabijan

Elizabeth Catabijan, our dearest and most beloved mother, grandmother, sister and aunt entered into eternal rest on January 8, 2014 after a lengthy and valiant battle with heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes. Elizabeth was born to Petra and Gelisius Olarte on October 25, 1930 in Half Moon Bay, California and was very proud of being part of a huge family of 10 siblings that included Dolores, Manoy (Bernaldo), Joerline, Anne, Janet, Jimmy, Sonny Boy (Joseph), Dodong (Valentino), and Josephine. Elizabeth spent most of her young life traveling with her parents as they followed their work up and down the coast of California. The family finally found its way down to Southern California where they became part of the community of Filipinos who had settled in the harbor area. During World War II, she lived for a time in the Philippines, and returned to the harbor area at the end of the war where she enrolled at Banning High School graduating in 1949. In 1950 she married Peter Catabijan, settling in Wilmington until her death. Her entire life revolved around lovingly raising her 5 children, providing for others as a Nurse's Aide, caring for her husband in the years that preceded his death. And, she still found time to maintain relationships with her huge extended family which included nieces and nephews who dearly loved and would seek out "Aunty Bingo" for help and advice. In her later years she found a passion for Polynesian dancing and at least twice a week would join her sisters Joerline, Anne, Janet, and sister-in-law Nena for dancing with a senior group at the Carson Community Center. As her diseases began to get the best of her, and she became confined more and more to the home, she still found pleasure in the company of her caregivers Minda, Cora, and Marina who worked around the clock to attend to her medical needs and kept her alert through their lively conversations, strolls into the backyard, and weekly trips to the thrift stores (Mom loved to shop and buy pretty things). Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husband Peter (1996) and youngest son Rodney (2011). She dearly missed both until the day she died and is now rejoicing with them in heaven. She leaves behind her children Karen Catabijan of Irvine, Lorna Calvin (Boyd) of Dallas, Patricia Catabijan of Wilmington, Jerry Catabijan (Steve) of Wilmington; grandchildren Jessica Contreras (Ryan) of McKinney, TX, Marianne Calvin of Madrid, Spain and Marc Monge (Kora) of Irvine, and great-grandchildren Abigail "Abby" and Samuel "Boo-Boo" `Contereras. In addition, she also leaves behind her sisters Joerline Miralles, and Janet San Jose; brother Valentino Candari, brother-in-laws Bob San Jose and Serge Tiampo, and sister-in-law Charlotte Candari, and last but not least many many nieces and nephews.
Elizabeth loved bouquets of yellow roses.
Viewing will take place on Jan. 16th 2014 from 5:00-7:00pm, followed by a rosary at the Green Hills Chapel, San Pedro, CA.
A funeral mass will take place on Jan. 17th 2014 at 10:00am at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Wilmington followed by a short ceremony at Green Hills. The family invites all attending to a lunch reception at China Buffet, 3525 Pacific Coast Hwy., Torrance, immediately following the ceremony.


Funeral Home:
Green Hills Mortuary and Memorial Chapel
27501 S.Western Ave.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
US 90275