George "Cesar" Consolacion Aquino
George "Cesar" Consolacion Aquino December 8, 2023
Our Lord showed us our first miracle and the magnitude of His love when He blessed us with our father, George “Cesar” Consolacion Aquino. God gifted us 90 years with this gentle, fun-loving, humble, helpful, and amazingly kind man before He sent His angels to take him home on December 8, 2023.
George was born in Santa Cruz, Laguna, in the Philippines on January 18, 1933, to Jorge and Remedios Aquino. He had an older brother, Walfredo, and an older sister, Virginia. He is survived by his younger brother, Lamberto. His beautiful wife, Cory, now 86 years old, had been lovingly by his side in their 60 years of marriage. To George, his crowning achievement came from, not his Merit Award for “31 years of government service characterized by selfless dedication, contributions in ideas and action, conduct exemplary of a model public servant,” nor from being the Director of Accounting and Budget of the National Food Authority for many years, but from being the husband of Corazon Aquino, the love of his life, and the proud father of his five children.
Towards the end of his life, George quickly became feeble, having difficulty waking up. But after his two sons arrived to be with him, making his family complete, George suddenly became alert, thinking clearly and speaking out his wishes, and demands for chocolate ice cream and Coke at 3:30 a.m., which he, of course, got away with! He spelled out each word we couldn’t understand. He declared his continued commitment to his family, saying his children could either live with him or build a house on his big lot.
With his last breaths, he expressed his gratitude to Cory, his “beloved wife all these years,” and thanked her for her love and their children. As the father of his “brood,” he prayed over his five children one by one and by name– Marife (Vincent) Nguyen, Elena (Patrick) Dwyer, Ana (Ping) Subida, Fiel (Cherrie) Aquino and Bong (Jeff Ames) Aquino. He was the good-natured grandfather of Veronica Nguyen, Maxwell Nguyen, Michael Nguyen, Madison (Taylor) Foote, Jack Dwyer, Danielle Dwyer, Andrew Subida, Charmaine (Fred) De Grano, Ashley (Kimo) Kepo’O, and Jared (Vanessa) Aquino, and delighted great grandfather of Makaio Kepo’O and Lochlan Foote.
On the last day of his lucidity, George called out to Cory and said, “Mommy, come here, we’ll hold hands until the last minute.” He lived his life happy and fulfilled, savoring what matters most – loving his family and finding pure joy in the simple things in life. We love you, Dad! Thank you for showing us how to truly love our family, and for being the best father, grandfather, and great-grandfather of our own broods. We’ll join you in time. Until then, enjoy your ice cream and soda, and save some for us.
There will be a visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, December 15, 2023 at Preddy Funeral Home in Orange, Virginia. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 16, 2023 at St. Isidore the Farmer Catholic Church, 14414 St Isidore Way, Orange, VA 22960, followed by interment at 3 p.m. at National Memorial Park, 7482 Lee Hwy, Falls Church, VA 22042.
Donations may be given in honor of George Aquino to Catholic Charities: https://secure.ccda.net/Give/Give/Donate/Giving.aspx (https://secure.ccda.net/Give/Give/Donate/Giving.aspx)
or to Alzheimer’s Association: https://www.alz.org/get-involved-now/donate?form=FUNSETYDEFK (https://www.alz.org/get-involved-now/donate?form=FUNSETYDEFK). Thank you.
