Lydia Katz

September 11, 2019

Lydia M. Katz was the first and only daughter of Cornelio Mendiola and Sofia Oliva Moron, born on June 6, 1944 in Tanauan, Leyte, Philippines.

Her father died at a very young age during the time of the Second World War, during the Japanese occupation the Philippines. She was left to the care of her mother, Sofia. She grew up together with her cousins, in the paternal side, shuttling between her mother’s home in Brgy. Atipolo and that of her father’s ancestral home in Buntay, Tanauan, Leyte.

Her mother remarried Patricio Gempis, also a native of Tanauan and this is how she came to have two brothers, Pedro and Gilbert Gempis. She was close to them, always the strong and dependable “Mana” (eldest sister) they had.

Lydia had a happy childhood. She was very close to her brothers and to her girl cousins from the Mendiola side, they being almost of the same age. Growing up in her adolescent years was easy too. They would have stories of their own, share among themselves secrets, not wanting to let her Mom, our Lola Sofia, know.

She finished grade school and high school in Tanauan, Leyte.  In 1963, she took up Stenography-Typewriting  at the Gregg Writer Institute, Tacloban City, Philippines. She also took up Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education  Major in Home Economics at  St. Paul’s College, Tacloban (later known as Divine Word University of Tacloban[1] ). She was on her way to becoming a full-pledged teacher. But she transferred and moved to the big city, Manila, Philippines. It was in the Manuel Luis Quezon University (MLQU) where she took her internship and their she finished her college degree.

During her college days in Manila, she stayed with her uncle, a lawyer, Atty. Pedro C. Mendiola, together with another cousin (Flor Mendiola Kanz) and worked part-time in the law office. She was a Secretary at the  MENDIOLA LAW OFFICE, at San Juan, Rizal, Philippines. She also worked part time at St. John Trading as a Secretary-Typist. This early, Lydia knew the value of hard work, dedication and determination— living in the big city Manila, on her own and taking on two jobs. Later, it would not be hard to comprehend, why moving up to a more sophisticated, highly urbanized, very progressive and first world city like New York would be easy.

While working at the law office, she met Paul Roy Katz. My Uncle Paul was captivated and fell in love with her—a pretty but refined, hardworking and educated Filipino. And I am sure my Aunt Lydia would have fallen in love the same way—to a fine, dashing and successful, young man of Jewish American descent. Their love story blossomed. Soon they got married in  a church in Malate, Manila, Philippines on December 12, 1972. She moved to New York City and started living her American dream.

In the New York City, she thrived, survived and made her own life. She was happy and successful. She worked at Sears Roebuck and Company [2] as a Secretary-Typist from 1973-1973  and then as an Office Assistant in the same company from 1976-1979. She collected a lot of friends in the apartment at Austin St. Forest Hills, and a few close friends, who have stayed with her until her last days. To her co-workers, she was hardworking,  passionate and dependable, earning the respects of her colleagues. She was a workaholic but she knew how to relax and have a good time. To her cousins, who would visit her anytime of the year, she was a gracious host, generous with her time and company. No wonder, they would always come back to her apartment whenever they could. To a Tanauananon[3], her house was open, just like her house in Las Pinas City, Philippines. To her friends in Forest Hills, she had this giggly and cheerful personality, not-so-techy in this millennial age but willing to learn and try something new each day. To her neighbors, she was nice, helpful and knew how to keep a good and lively conversation—she made it easy for them to feel that they were participating even if they didn't have much to say. Her friends admired her feistiness, strong, immutable faith and her (very) independent nature. (Sympathy Card from Ms. Marjorie Khettab, 9/11/18)

To our Uncle Paul, she was a devoted wife, loving, patient and caring even to his last days. She was a very strong woman all throughout. They would always prepare packages to send to us in the Philippines and this would always be something worth anticipating on a yearly basis. They were a generous couple to us ever since I can remember. We always felt that we had a mother back here—we always felt her silent, tugging ways to persuade us to come and try New York City.

When she lost Uncle Paul, she was devastated and felt alone. But she overcame this stage and survived living on her own. A fighter that she was, she continued and spent her time moving on and moving forward in the company of her cousins and close friends. She travelled and discovered new places and she got by.

In the last five years, she would communicate to me regularly through social media, on voice calls at least twice a week and we would have this lengthy discussions on almost anything—news from home (Tanauan, Leyte), news of babies and kids growing up, work, her activities as a retiree,  politics in the Philippines and here in the US, etc. I would always try to inject questions if she ever she felt alone and she would quickly brush it aside. Typically Auntie—never letting her guard down. We had countless good, happy conversations—Auntie always made sure conversations were light, happy and lively. She didn't want to dwell on problems and seemed worry-free. I knew she could handle almost anything. And she did.

She had her surgery in April 2018 and  this was only one of the few things she  felt unsure of. But I would encourage her as this was what she needed, her complaints of pain becoming too frequent. We would discuss her options, inviting her to try it in the Philippines, but she would politely refuse—she did not want us to be burdened much, that is typically her. After her surgery she became depressed and there I saw the strong lady wavering. She must have felt she was alone and had no one on her side. And that is why we came—because nothing is impossible. In fact, “ It is Love alone that gives worth to all things”. (St. Teresa of Avila, Saint and Doctor of the Catholic Church)  So you see Auntie, come hell or high water, we are here. You are not alone.

Her last days were full of bittersweet moments—sweet because she was so happy to have us experience New York City even if she were just in her hospital bed. Totally surprised to see us in person, yet she showed us her gracious self once again, not wanting to be in ICU and spoil our visit to the ‘Big Apple’. It was a mission after all, from our perspective, not a business/pleasure thing. From our arrival on September 2 until the 8th, her progress health-wise was significant. From being on all those tubes, now we would see her move her shoulders (as if laughing), frown, shrug her shoulders, nod, shake her head, follow us on our calling, and try to speak. For us, these moments were just amazing! Come dusk, it was bitter — as we would aways go home and leave her behind. We felt that she wanted to go home with us. Knowing Auntie, home would never be Silver Lake Nursing Home, Staten Island, NY, but home is only in Austin Street, Forest Hills, NY.

She waited for us to arrive at Richmond University Hospital Medical Center on Sunday, September 9, 2018, before going. She had cardiac arrest. I could only whisper to her happy thoughts that if she would want to go, she do so in happy state, with peace in her heart and with the thought that she is and was never alone in her journey…That we are here and we have come for her even if it was in her last days…

 So Auntie Lydia, you have lived a full life. Despite the illness, you have fought and you have won. Depression and feeling alone might have been the lowest ebb in your last days but appearing at the foot of your hospital bed is a fulfillment of a promise—that you are loved by all of us. The Good Lord is so good to you to have us come here and catch you right on time. You have a good heart and I guess you deserve all of our love, respect and efforts—crossing the Pacific and entering another continent just to grasp your hand, feel its warmth, kiss you on the cheeks and forehead and say you are not alone. You have our love Auntie and that will forever stay.

From all of us, thank you. We love you but no goodbyes.

[1] Divine Word University of Tacloban City, Philippines, closed in 1995; operated and managed by the Society of the Divine Word;

[2] 1633 Broadway, New York

[3] One who lives in Tanauan, Leyte, Philippines;

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