Obituary of Luz Figueroa Arteche

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Luz Figueroa Arteche, of Calbiga, Samar, Philippines and New York, NY, died on Thursday (March 29, 2018) in New York City. She was 96.

She was born on February 17, 1922 in Calbiga, Samar, the eldest of ten children of Constancio and Brigida Figueroa. She graduated from the venerable University of Santo Thomas in Manila, Philippines with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and was a pharmacist by profession when she married Jose “Joe” Arteche, Sr., CPA, on January 5, 1952. They both relocated from Manila in 1960 when Joe moved from his business as a distributor and grocery owner of Namarco Wholesale to become the general manager of Ledeco, regional distributor of IH tractors and trucks (International Harvester Inc. (USA) farm machinery and equipment) in Tacloban City, Leyte.

“Positive Thinking & Prayers.” Tragedy struck. Joe died on November 11, 1965. From a dutiful housewife, Luz became a professional insurance underwriter and raised her six children through college all by herself. She became a Phil-Am Life (AIG) Insurance Company branch manager before immigrating to the United States in 1985. She has since then lived in New York where she became an American citizen in 2000.

“Your Health is Your Wealth.” A very genteel lady who never raised her voice, humble, cheerful, kind and generous to a fault, her favorite color was her birthstone amethyst and she loved to sing, share her gentle, wonderful smile, and was magnanimous and quick to thank all those around her. Deeply pious, she attended mass daily and devoted her entire life to God and to the welfare of her children and grandchildren.

Her siblings Fe, Flor, Romeo, Aurora, and Villa predeceased her.

She is survived by her siblings Pacita, Gloria, Lilia and Manuel, and her six children, Judith and her husband Michael, Jose Jr. and his wife Akemi, Jesus Antonio and his wife Carmen, Maria Luz and her husband Elio, Michael and his wife Maria Lourdes, and Manuel, and her ten grandchildren, Jose III and his wife Elisa, John James and his wife Janiee, Diana, Elio Jr., Katherine Nicole, Marie Michelle, Michael Gabriel, Dennis Joseph, Lou Roxanne, and Therese, and her three great-grandchildren, Arabella, Jeremy Jaylin and Amelia Rose.

Viewing will be held on April 5 & 6, 5:00-9:00 pm at Fox Funeral Home, 98-07 Ascan Avenue, Forest Hills, NY 11375. A funeral mass service will be held on April 7, Saturday at 9:30 am at Our Lady Queen Martyrs, 110-60 Queens Blvd (Ascan Blvd), Forest Hills, NY 11375 followed by interment services at St. John Cemetery, 80-01 Metropolitan Avenue, Middle Village, New York 11379.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be issued to “HIC Alumni International”. Please mention on your check or wire “On Behalf of Joe/Luz Arteche Scholars" and send to Holy Infant College Scholarship Fund, Attn: Sol Galindo, VP & Treasurer, 291 Hope St, #B2 Stamford, Ct 06906.