Lucia M Ancheta

Lucia “Maring” Mostoles Ancheta went home to be with the Lord on January 20, 2025. She was 84 years old.

Born in Ilocos Sur, Philippines on September 1, 1940, Lucia, or Maring as her relatives knew her, grew up without her parents. She lost her mother at age 4 during World War II. Then, to support the family following the war, her father accepted a contract to work in the plantation fields of the Hawaiian Islands. Lucia was left in the care of her relatives in Sevilla, Santa Cruz with her older sister, while her older brother was sent with their aunt to follow their father to Hawai’i. With the funds sent home by her father, Lucia pursued a higher education in Manila. In 1963 she graduated from Manila College of Optometry (now the College of Optometry at Manila Central University) with a doctoral degree. She was a member of the first or inaugural class to graduate from the newly founded college. Dr. Lucia D. Mostoles was an optometrist for a few years in Manila.

In 1967 she emigrated to Hawai’i and reunited with her father, brother, aunt, and their families. Unable to practice optometry without a license, she worked odd jobs to earn a living including working briefly for Hilton Hawaiian Village, Dole, Woolworth’s, and the Honolulu Optical Company. During this time she attended one of Don Ho’s shows and probably heard him sing his signature song, “Tiny Bubbles.” In 1970 two friends brought Lucia with them to visit a cousin in the hospital. They introduced her to her future husband, Rizal Ancheta, who had just arrived from the Philippines. By 1971 Lucia and Rizal married and welcomed their first child, Randy. Their daughter Ruby and youngest son Ryan soon followed.

After living in Hawai’i for a few years the young family moved to the mainland, relocating to the South Bay Area of Los Angeles. A friend soon invited them to attend the First United Methodist Church of Wilmington where they became a part of the church family and where Lucia worshiped for many years until her death.

She continued to work wherever she could to help support her family. In the early years she labored as a machine operator at K&M Company (later merged with Avery Dennison) making the 3-ring binders and other office supplies her children would use in school. She then worked as a machine operator at Fairchild Fasteners manufacturing aerospace hardware that she proudly — or jokingly — said went up with the space shuttle. After her retirement, she enjoyed time with family and friends, tending to her garden, reading dozens of books, watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune nightly, attending church, and visiting her favorite playgrounds at Pala and Pechanga.

Everyone remembers Lucia/Lucy/Maring for her friendliness, kindness, compassion, thoughtfulness, hospitality, and generosity. If she called, you listened as she “talk story,” even if she initially called just to ask a question. If you needed a place to stay, she opened up her home to you in the house her husband renovated in Carson. If you visited, she might send you home with cuttings from her garden, such as roses, succulents, lilies, or the leaves and pods from her “miracle tree,” the marungay (moringa). If you were lucky, you tasted her home baked pan de sal years before Filipino bakeries opened in the local area. If you had a family, church, or other event, she brought her bibingka to share. If you had ever met Lucia, you met a sister/nana/auntie/grandma/friend because not only did she give you advice whether you were ready to hear it or not, she shared her life’s joys with you.

Since childhood, Lucia endured many challenges, especially the last few years when her health necessitated the use for kidney dialysis, a pace maker, and stents. Ever a resilient fighter, back in May 2024, she became the first ICU graduate of Kaiser Permanente South Bay to survive COVID-19 after heavy sedation and intubation, surprising all her doctors and nurses. With the help of medical staff at Kaiser Permanente South Bay and Carson Clinic, and Davita Carson, she slowly recovered. In the months that followed, her loved ones continued to spend precious moments in her presence, hear her voice calls, and receive her hand-written cards. We are truly grateful to God for blessing us with that “extra” time with her.

Lucia is preceded in death by her parents Jose & Susana Mostoles, her loving husband of 42 years Rizal, her sister and brother-in-law Benita & Ponciano Cambri, Sr., her brother Mauro Mostoles, and a sibling who passed in infancy. She is survived by her children Randy (& Amanda) Ancheta, Ruby (& Emery) Sagrado, and Ryan Ancheta; her grandchildren Kamryn (& Alecsander) Ferguson, Lauryn Ancheta (& Bailey Shaw), Madelyn Ancheta, Elijah Sagrado, Emma Lynn Sagrado, and Emmanuel Sagrado; her brother Ignacio (& Felisa) Mostoles; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 14, 2025, 4:30pm—8:30pm, with a prayer service beginning at 6:30pm. Attendees are encouraged to wear Lucia’s favorite colors: deep burgundy, dark red, and/or pink. Refreshments will be served. A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Saturday, February 15, 2025, at 9:00am. Both services will be held at Green Hills Memorial Chapel, Rancho Palos Verdes. A graveside service immediately follows the Celebration of Life with a lunch reception later in Torrance. For those unable to attend, livestreams of the Chapel services will be posted through the Green Hills L.A. website. Recordings will be made available up to 60 days after the services.

Lucia/Maring had a knack for nurturing things, whether it be roses or relationships, and often encouraged others. In lieu of flowers, monetary donations may be made in memoriam to the First United Methodist Church of Wilmington or as a tribute gift to the UCLA CORE Kidney Program.

Donate to Wilmington First United Methodist Church:
(Look for the GIVE button on the “God Loves a Cheerful Giver” posting)
https://wilmingtonfumc.org

Donate to the CORE Kidney Program at UCLA:
(Look for “Get Involved” —> “Monetary Donations and Philanthropy”)
https://www.uclahealth.org/programs/core-kidney