Leonida Villanueva Mariano

Leonida Villanueva Mariano, born October 17, 1932 in Ilocos Norte, Philippines, to Teodorico & Juliana (Pascual) Villanueva. She was called Aning by her closest friends. She accepted Christ as her Savior at The Independent Church of Dingras. She met & married Clemente Mariano in February, 1948. They soon started what became a large & close-knit family. Aning & Clemente soon established themselves as rice farmers and rice merchants in the province, especially in Laoag City. Nana soon proved herself to be a loving & giving wife and mother. She was unfailingly generous to everyone and was loved by all who knew her. She was highly intelligent & distinguished herself as someone to respect and look up to in the province & throughout the community. She and Clemente immigrated to America in 1981 and settled in the Severn area. She worked in customer service for McDonald?s and Walmart. In her spare time she enjoyed trips to casinos, horseracing, watching "Days of Our Lives", cooking, cookouts and all family gatherings. She loved to eat steak, grilled fish and lechon. She is survived by her husband Clemente Mariano of Brooklyn Park and her eight children: Loreto/Leonida Mariano; Natividad /Crisencio Gueverra; Antonio/Rosalinda Mariano; Magellan /Portia Mariano; Cionita/Perlito Placer; Trinidad/John Galutira; Rose Marie / Rev. Anton T. Wesley; Ferdinan/Jayne Mariano. To imitate her outstanding example, she leave 21 grandchildren: Enrico/Emma; Marvin Jay; Percian/Melody; Leslie Kate/Delfin; Thristan; Phoebe Kates; Michelle Marie/Michael; Michael Stephan; Cristelyne Joy; Ryan Anthony; Kimberly Ann; Jennifer Megan; Martia Mae; Judy Anne; Alyssa Janel; John Clement; Janine Rachel; Angel Lynne; Elijah Travers; Ferdinand Jayden; Jillian Rae. There are 7 great-grandchildren: Gianna Gabrielle; Jason; Ella Sophia; Aiden James; and Kiara Elizabeth; Akeela & Delfin. Preceding her were baby Rose Basilio & Peter. She was the best, sweetest, most loving & wonderful sister, wife, mother, grandmother & great-grandmother. Nana passed away peacefully on March 20, 2013 at BWMC surrounded by her loving family. She will be tremendously missed by all and never forgotten by any.