OYAO

Baleriana Oyao died July 18, 2004, at her Gilroy home.
She was 102.
Baleriana Oyao died July 18, 2004, at her Gilroy home.

She was 102.

Born on June 2, 1902, Mrs. Oyao was originally from Siquijor, a small island in the Philippines, Mrs. Oyao moved to Hawaii with her sister when she was 18. Looking for work, they found employment at plantations that grew pineapple and sugar cane.

While in Hawaii, she met the man who would become her husband. Together, they worked in Hawaii for a few months before moving to San Francisco. Later, the Oyaos moved to Salinas to be with other Filipino families. There, both Oyao and her husband worked in fields up and down California’s Central Coast. After about seven years in the Salinas area, the Oyaos moved to Gilroy.

She lived in different houses before moving to her current Seventh Street place in 1964, which is also the site where Gilroy hopes to put its new arts center.

Mrs. Oyao was a member of Fil-Visayan Association of America. She loved to gamble in Reno, loved animals, especially her cats and dogs and enjoyed traveling and spending time with her family. Late into her life she was still looking for a party.

She is survived by her children Frank and his wife Brunie Oyao of San Jose, Arcenio and his wife Julie Oyao of Daly City, Chefela Hammett of El Sobrante, Benjamin and his wife Josie Oyao of Elk Grove; grandchildren Francisco, Jr., Don, Mark, Tim, Shawn, Troy, Darren, Derrek, Richard, Kirk, Jennifer, Philip, and Sheldon; great-grandchildren Mirabai, Kumara, Arriana, Timmy, Drake, Elizabeth, Damien, Jaclynn, Jasmine, Jenei, Alfonso, Trevor, Shanae, and Kaikoa.

A visitation starts Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Habing Family Funeral Home, Gilroy with a vigil beginning at 7 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, July 22, 2004, at the funeral home, the proceed to St. Mary Church for Mass at 10 a.m.

Burial will follow at St. Mary Cemetery, Gilroy.

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