Dr. Maria Lourdes Guinigundo, MD

Doctor Maria Lourdes Ulgado Guinigundo passed away peacefully on 6 July 2023 with her beloved husband Noli at her side. Early that morning the Virgin of the Angels wrapped Maria in her cloak of peace and comfort and brought her to be with the Father. Maria, the youngest of three children, was born on 25 January 1929 to Antonio and Eusebia Nañagas Ulgado in San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines. As a teenager, Maria survived the occupation of the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. Among her wartime experiences include having her family home burned by the Japanese, with only the stove remaining intact (after which her mother, Eusebia was asked to fry some eggs for one of the Japanese officers). At one point, her father (Antonio) was incarcerated by the Imperial Army. Maria often talked about how she and her family, including her imprisoned father prayed the Holy Rosary without cease for his continued safety and eventual release. Lastly, during the last days of the Japanese occupation, Maria often recounted how their family was separated in the chaos of the occupation and how they were never sure of one another’s’ whereabouts for weeks at a time. After the war, Maria followed in her brother Edmundo’s footsteps and attended Holy Spirit Catholic College and medical school at the University of Santo Tomas, the oldest Catholic university in the Philippines. Maria became a practicing ophthalmologist as well as an assistant professor at her alma mater. During the summer of 1961, while working as chief resident of the Far Eastern University medical school training hospital, Maria met Noli who was also training at the same hospital. After a brief courting period and eventual marriage, the couple began what would become an over 60-year saga in the United States. Maria & Noli were married on 26 December 1962 at Imus Cathedral in Cavite, Philippines. In 1962 they emigrated to the United States and lived in Hamilton, Ohio from 1964-1968. In 1970, they finally settled in the small farming town of Brookville, Indiana, where they opened a private practice clinic until the summer of 1987. Afterward, Maria and Noli moved to Monroe, Louisiana where Noli continued to practice family medicine in both Monroe and the town of Oak Grove, roughly an hour north of Monroe. Maria then retired from medical practice but continued as the office manager at Noli’s medical clinic. Both Maria and Noli finally retired altogether in the fall of 2019. From there, they built their dream home in Lake Nona, Florida (Orlando) where they have since enjoyed the warm climate and lush tropical landscapes of the sunshine state. Despite being a medical doctor, a recipient of the lifetime achievement award from the University of Santo Tomas, and an accomplished pianist who loved to dance, sing, & cook, Maria’s first love was her family. She sacrificed her medical career to raise her children and help her husband make his private practice a stellar success. Maria continued to support her husband and children in all their endeavors. Her sense of support, comfort, and encouragement even in the most difficult of times was unwavering. Maria also had a passion for traveling that included over five visits to London (which always included shopping sprees at Harrods and Selfridges as well as visits to the West End theatre district); Oxford and Bath; several trips to Rome, including a visit to Vatican City to see her distant cousin, Bishop Luis Tagle elevated to Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2014; and many other trips that included Paris, Lourdes, Toulouse, Lisbon, Fatima, Nazaré, Batalha, Madrid, Avila, Segovia, Venice, Assisi, Cervara di Roma, Subiaco, Greccio, Hong Kong, Toronto, Las Vegas, Boston, New York, and Los Angeles. Despite her many travels and American citizenship, she never forgot her roots and her homeland. Maria traveled to the Philippines on an almost yearly basis to visit family and partake in the annual Sacred Heart family reunions in her hometown of Lucban, Quezon. While Maria appreciated and respected the value of strict discipline in all endeavors, her sense of humor and love of having fun were always overwhelming. Maria never shied away from leading the first dance at any party, which almost invariably led to the infectious flooding of the dance floor. And regardless of what Maria was doing at any given time, be it preparing nilaga, ironing clothes, washing the dishes, vacuuming, shopping for shoes, picking up groceries, or just getting a midnight snack, one could be assured to hear her singing a tune du jour. Among Maria’s favorite music included Christmas Carols, Hymns, Filipino folksongs, Petula Clark, Connie Francis, and anything written by Andrew Lloyd Weber, Cameron Mackintosh, and Tim Rice. Throughout her life, Maria was a devout Roman Catholic and avid devotee to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Her love, faith, and hope in the power of Jesus Christ and the eternal intercession of the Blessed Mother were reflected in how she viewed the world as well how she interacted with family, friends, and complete strangers. For Maria, her greeting and farewell to all was always centered in the encouragement of never forgetting to say one’s prayers and thanking God for his abundant blessings. Maria is predeceased by her father Antonio Campomanes Ulgado who died in 1978 and mother Eusebia (Nañagas) who died in 1983; Brother Edmundo died 1998 (Zenaida died 2007); Brother Antonio died 2007 (Paulita (etiam viviens). Maria is survived by her husband Dr. Noli Contreras Guinigundo. She is also survived by her two sons: Gerard Guinigundo (Nanet Lim) and Joseph Guinigundo. Maria will be deeply missed forever by her family and numerous friends who love her dearly.

Dr. Maria Lourdes Guinigundo, MD

January 25, 1929 - July 6, 2023