ELVIRA SUMILE MENDOZA passed away on July 31, 2022 in Alameda, California. Known as “Elbing” or “Elvie” to her family and friends, she was born on February 10, 1929 in Balite, Villaba, Leyte, Philippines. She is preceded in death by her husband, Pete Mendoza. Although she and Pete did not have children of their own, Elvie was the 12th of 13 children in the Sumile family, so is survived by many nieces and nephews, and their families.
She spent most of her 93 years in a life of service. At the age of 25, Elvie entered the Convent in the Congregation of the Augustinian Recollect Sisters in the Philippines. After receiving her Perpetual Vows in 1962, she was a Sister Superior for 12 years, where she was in charge of the school in Toledo, Cebu. In all, she devoted 20+ years as a nun, but in 1976 an opportunity arose for Elvie to come to the U.S. that she could not refuse, and where she ultimately joined her sister, the late Natividad Narito.
Elvie started a new life in the U.S. and began to work as a CNA at a local convalescent hospital in Alameda. It was during this time that she met, and later married, Pete. Elvie also began her volunteer work at this time by becoming a member of many service organizations, including the American Legion Auxiliary Rizal 598, Damas Filipinas San Rafael Lodge #656, the Filipino Catholic Organization of the East Bay, Filipino Women’s Club of the East Bay, Legionarios Del Trabajo, and the Legion of Mary.
She was also very active at her church, St. Joseph Basilica, especially as a Eucharistic Minister. She would visit with patients at the convalescent hospitals, lead the rosary with them and gave Communion to the Catholic patients. Elvie was one of the first recipients of the Damien Award for her volunteer work at St. Joseph, as well as receiving numerous community awards for her varied volunteer service.
In 1985, Elvie became very sick, and was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Surgery was successful, but she had to endure months of rehabilitation on the road to recovery. Unfortunately, she was not able to return to work as a CNA, but she didn’t mind because it allowed her to spend more time volunteering! She became even more of a regular at St. Joseph - opening the church by 7 a.m. every day. She performed this task until 2003, when her mobility was hindered and she needed support to walk. While she couldn’t make it to church to open the doors, she still attended mass regularly and led the rosary before morning mass.
Elvie loved to travel, and enjoyed painting and other crafts. She would make rosaries, and that came in handy for all the family rosaries she led when relatives passed away. Most of all, she looked forward to having breakfast with her family and friends after the morning mass.
Services will be held at St. Joseph Basilica, 1109 Chestnut St., Alameda. Viewing and Rosary will be held on Monday, August 22, from 4 to 7 p.m., and the funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, August 23 at 11 a.m. Interment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Oakland.
