Obituary for Josefina Buenavista Arcay
Josefina Buenavista Arcay
Saginaw, Michigan
Josefina Buenavista Arcay, dedicated wife, mother of five, daughter, sister, and friend of many, passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side on October 23, 2022 at the age of 74 in Saginaw, Michigan. Josefina, affectionately known as Josie, was born in the town of Barili, Cebu City, Philippines on November 19, 1947. She met her beloved Gualberto at a dance at her alma mater, Southwestern University in Cebu. They later married and humbly raised a son and four daughters. Josie immigrated with her family to Detroit, Michigan and later settled in Saginaw, Michigan where she found a faithful community with the Philippine Association of Northeastern Michigan (PANEM). Born with gifted hands, Josie dedicated over 50 years serving others as a registered nurse in Labor and Delivery and then Endoscopy. Her passion to heal others led her to open ArcVista, a private home health care dedicated and named after her familial roots. The idea for ArcVista originated from Gualberto's vision and adoration for Josie's notable talents as a nurse. With ArcVista, she especially had a place in her heart to comfort the elderly in underserved communities. She generously extended patient visits to tidy their homes, prepare meals, and cradle those without families with dignity and love. As a champion for developing future health care professionals, she extended educational benefits to nursing students in the Philippines to better their chance of finding success. As an avid poet and songwriter, Josie once described nursing as a divine calling and gift that she is committed to share with others.
While most people in their 70's retire, Josie instead ventured into the hotel industry to build a private beach resort in Barili that overlooks the majestic views of the Visayan Sea. Hotel Felomina was born out of humble beginnings from her mother's vision to share the Philippine culture and its beauty with the world. With tireless support of family and friends in Barili, combined with her strong-will and drive, Josie's endeavor came to fruition.
Her greatest joys centered on her children and grandchildren. She demonstrated that love through Filipino soul food, infamous karaoke, and guitar serenades. She will be best remembered for hosting extensive parties celebrating life's simplistic to grandiose moments. She taught her children to live simply, love generously, work diligently, and always remember your roots. She was tenderly known as "buotan", a morally good person. For many years she sent "balikbayan boxes", packages containing gifts intended for family and loved ones in the Philippines. Her generosity, kindness, and joyful light simply shined on others. Josie would want her loving brother, sisters, and family in Barili to know that she longed to be home. She would also want dear friends to know that they were extended family centric to her life in the U.S.
The recent untimely passing of Josie's daughter, Johanna, became too heavy for Josie's fragile heart. But if Heaven is a place of incandescent joy, then Josie found supreme Glory in reuniting with Johanna, beloved husband Gualberto, parents Felomina and Norberto, and loved ones. Surviving to cherish her memory is her son, Royce (Heather), and daughters, Gigi, Ann (Rodney), Lee (Casey), son-in-law Chris (preceded by Johanna), grandchildren, Seattle, Andrew, Julius, Jackson, Taylor, Gabby, Hailey, and Layla, sisters Cleofe (preceded by Jovencio), Vicenta (preceded by Jose), Esperanza (preceded by Federico), brother Anthony (Florenda), and vast aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Funeral Liturgy will take place 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 29, 2022 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 5376 State St., Saginaw, Michigan. Rev. Fr. Richard A. Bokinskie will officiate with entombment in Roselawn Memorial Mausoleum. Friends may visit at the Snow Funeral Home, 3775 N. Center Rd. (between Shattuck and McCarty), where the family will be present on Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and at the church on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until time of Mass. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church or PANEM (Philippine Association Of Northeastern Michigan).
Saginaw, Michigan
Josefina Buenavista Arcay, dedicated wife, mother of five, daughter, sister, and friend of many, passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side on October 23, 2022 at the age of 74 in Saginaw, Michigan. Josefina, affectionately known as Josie, was born in the town of Barili, Cebu City, Philippines on November 19, 1947. She met her beloved Gualberto at a dance at her alma mater, Southwestern University in Cebu. They later married and humbly raised a son and four daughters. Josie immigrated with her family to Detroit, Michigan and later settled in Saginaw, Michigan where she found a faithful community with the Philippine Association of Northeastern Michigan (PANEM). Born with gifted hands, Josie dedicated over 50 years serving others as a registered nurse in Labor and Delivery and then Endoscopy. Her passion to heal others led her to open ArcVista, a private home health care dedicated and named after her familial roots. The idea for ArcVista originated from Gualberto's vision and adoration for Josie's notable talents as a nurse. With ArcVista, she especially had a place in her heart to comfort the elderly in underserved communities. She generously extended patient visits to tidy their homes, prepare meals, and cradle those without families with dignity and love. As a champion for developing future health care professionals, she extended educational benefits to nursing students in the Philippines to better their chance of finding success. As an avid poet and songwriter, Josie once described nursing as a divine calling and gift that she is committed to share with others.
While most people in their 70's retire, Josie instead ventured into the hotel industry to build a private beach resort in Barili that overlooks the majestic views of the Visayan Sea. Hotel Felomina was born out of humble beginnings from her mother's vision to share the Philippine culture and its beauty with the world. With tireless support of family and friends in Barili, combined with her strong-will and drive, Josie's endeavor came to fruition.
Her greatest joys centered on her children and grandchildren. She demonstrated that love through Filipino soul food, infamous karaoke, and guitar serenades. She will be best remembered for hosting extensive parties celebrating life's simplistic to grandiose moments. She taught her children to live simply, love generously, work diligently, and always remember your roots. She was tenderly known as "buotan", a morally good person. For many years she sent "balikbayan boxes", packages containing gifts intended for family and loved ones in the Philippines. Her generosity, kindness, and joyful light simply shined on others. Josie would want her loving brother, sisters, and family in Barili to know that she longed to be home. She would also want dear friends to know that they were extended family centric to her life in the U.S.
The recent untimely passing of Josie's daughter, Johanna, became too heavy for Josie's fragile heart. But if Heaven is a place of incandescent joy, then Josie found supreme Glory in reuniting with Johanna, beloved husband Gualberto, parents Felomina and Norberto, and loved ones. Surviving to cherish her memory is her son, Royce (Heather), and daughters, Gigi, Ann (Rodney), Lee (Casey), son-in-law Chris (preceded by Johanna), grandchildren, Seattle, Andrew, Julius, Jackson, Taylor, Gabby, Hailey, and Layla, sisters Cleofe (preceded by Jovencio), Vicenta (preceded by Jose), Esperanza (preceded by Federico), brother Anthony (Florenda), and vast aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Funeral Liturgy will take place 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 29, 2022 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 5376 State St., Saginaw, Michigan. Rev. Fr. Richard A. Bokinskie will officiate with entombment in Roselawn Memorial Mausoleum. Friends may visit at the Snow Funeral Home, 3775 N. Center Rd. (between Shattuck and McCarty), where the family will be present on Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and at the church on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until time of Mass. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church or PANEM (Philippine Association Of Northeastern Michigan).