OBITUARY
Nazario Orpilla, 101, of Vallejo, born on July 27, 1906, in Bauang,
Philippines, passed away peacefully at Kaiser Permanente Hospital, after a
brief illness. He was one of the last few remaining Filipino pioneers left in
Vallejo.
As a twenty year old in 1926, Nazario immigrated to America. He came to
America aboard the Pacific-Canadian Ocean liner. He first settled in San
Francisco where he worked in a carbon battery factory then at a restaurant
before moving to Vallejo. Nazario worked at Mare Island Shipyard beginning
in 1934 along with his two brothers, Modesto and Clemente. During WWII,
he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Pearl Harbor from 1942 to
1946. He was a Chief Steward 1st Class and served his country honorably.
After the war, he returned to Vallejo and his job at Mare Island. He retired in
1973 but never slowed down. He continued being active with his family,
community, cooking, fishing and gardening.
During his early days in Vallejo, he lived in a boarding house operated
by Mary Hullana on Carolina Street. He also became a member of the
Legionarios del Trabajo fraternity in 1941 and eventually rose to the rank of
Worshipful Master of the Vallejo Lodge No. 620. He was a lifetime member of
the Filipino Community of Solano County, Filipino American Catholic Club,
La Union Club, American Legion, and the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum.
He was also a member of St. Basil’s Catholic Church, since 1960, where he
served many years as an usher. Up to his death, he never missed a Sunday
service.
In 1959, Nazario went back to the Philippines and married Ofelia Galvez.
He was fifty-two and she was twenty-four. They were married for forty-eight
years before his passing. Survivors include his wife Ofelia Orpilla of Vallejo;
daughter Luella Orpilla (Derek Wong) of Sacramento; sons Mel Orpilla
(Belle) of Vallejo, and Phillip Orpilla (Ila) of Lakewood, CA, and foster
daughter, Theresa Balestreri of Vallejo. He had nine grandchildren, Robert
“Kaleo” Wilson (Lavella), Tony Orpilla, Jacob Orpilla, Athena Shingu, Elijah
Shingu, Isiah Shingu, Chloe Orpilla, Cayla Orpilla, and Ciara Orpilla. He had
three great-grandchildren, Kaleo, Kekoa and Nani Wilson. In addition, he
leaves behind numerous “adopted” children, grandchildren, great-
grandchildren, God-children, family and friends.
Visitation will be at Colonial Chapels, Vallejo, from 1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
on Saturday and Sunday, with a Rosary on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. Funeral
Mass will be at St. Basil’s Catholic Church, Vallejo, on Monday, January 7, at
10:00 a.m. Burial to follow at All Souls Catholic Cemetery, Vallejo.
Days, Vigil and Funeral
for my Father
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1959.
del Trabajo since 1941.
100th birthday party last year.
called 911 after my dad's stroke. Because of his heroic
actions we all got to say goodbye to my dad.
first time since 1946 when he was discharged from the Navy.