Obituary of Ofelia Salamante Sangalang

December 3, 1928 – Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines

December 20, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta

Ofelia Sangalang (nee Salamante), of Calgary, AB, passed away on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at the age of 95 years.

Ofelia was born in Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines, on December 3, 1928.

She immigrated to Canada on March 16, 1982, and lived in Winnipeg, MB, for 23 years until she moved to Calgary, AB, along with her youngest daughter Irene and her family on July 10, 2005.

She was married to the late Felipe Sangalang on December 10, 1947, in Manila.

She was a fulltime homemaker back in the Philippines and a mother of eight wonderful children, whom she loved so dearly.

She worked four years in Canada at a Jean’s store and managed to take an English course during the night. She loves learning new things and that entertains her so much.

She’s been a devoted wife and an amazing mother; she spent most of her life loving and raising her eight children. Time was very precious to her that she makes sure that her children come first. That’s her motto: “Time is Gold”.

She was always happy and curious at every little thing. She loves to read “Reader’s Digests” and she was a very religious person. At 95, she still loved to go out, to sit in the back seat of the car while we drove her around the city and to eat her favorite ice cream. She was always a delighted grandma with lots of interesting stories that she was able to share with her grandchildren and great grandchildren, especially with the newest baby in the family, Gianna Ava, who she sang nursery rhymes to.

Her favorite travel adventure was the all inclusive in Cancun Mexico and Hawaii. She loves listening to songs of Barbra Streisand and Frank Sinatra and her favorite saying was “Wow”. She will be most remembered for of how she would think of others first before her. She was a super generous and big-hearted Mother.

Ofelia loved her mother Maria so much that she would always dream of her and always remember how she missed her so much because she never got a chance to spend a lot of time with her.

Ofelia is survived by her three daughters and one son-in-law, Faye Sangalang of Winnipeg, MB, Amelita Medina of Winnipeg, MB, and Irene S. Gutierrez (Ruel) of Calgary, AB; and five sons and five daughters-in-law, Reynaldo Sangalang (Imelda Sangalang) of Winnipeg, MB, Gilberto Sangalang (Chris Macasiray) of Vancouver, BC, Alberto Sangalang (Sonia Sangalang) of Winnipeg, MB, Amor Sangalang (Dulce Ventura) and Joseph Sangalang (Arlene Sangalang) of New Westminster, BC; and twelve grandchildren, John Sangalang (Trish Javier) of Surrey, BC, Paul Sangalang (Gen Sangalang) Anaheim, California, Pj Sangalang of London, UK, Burton Sangalang of Langley, BC, Phillip Sangalang of Vancouver, BC, Geraldine Bhaskar (Amit Bhaskar) of Port Coquitlam, BC, Michelle Siasat of Australia, Francis Medina of Winnipeg, MB, Michael Sangalang of Port Coquitlam, BC, Ryan Gutierrez (Karen Gutierrez) of Calgary, AB, Jessica Villaroman (Kevin Villaroman) of Calgary, AB, Aahron Joseph Sangalang of New Westminster, BC, and Andrew Sangalang of Port Coquitlam, BC; and seven great grandchildren, Mateo Sangalang, Micah Sangalang, Stella Sangalang, of Surrey, BC, Josea Sangalang, Leona Sangalang, Amaia Sangalang of Anaheim, and Gianna Ava Villaroman of Calgary, AB.

Ofelia was predeceased by her spouse, Felipe Catabona Sangalang, her brothers, Medardo Salamante (Ellen Salamante) and Mario Surla (Linda Surla), her five sisters, Zenaida Dia, Lydia Paquinto, Doris Castro, Delicia Kapuno, Teresita Aquino; and her parents, Maria Pablo Salamante and Santiago Salamante.

The family would like to acknowledge and thank family and friends from the United States and Philippines for all their love and support.

Relatives and friends are invited to Prayers and Tributes at McInnis & Holloway (Deerfoot South, 12281 – 40th Street SE, Calgary, AB) on Thursday, December 28, 2023, from 7:00 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be held at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church (10 Prestwick Dr SE, Calgary, AB T2Z 4J6) on Friday, December 29, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Ofelia’s family here.

In living memory of Ofelia Sangalang, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Deerfoot South, 12281 – 40th Street SE, Calgary, AB T2Z 4E6, Telephone: 403-203-0525.