Maura Mallari

Durango resident Maura G. Mallari died Friday, March 8, 2013, at Four Corners Health Care Center in Durango. She was 100. Maura G. Mallari was born November 29, 1912, to Monico and Victoria Gomez in Angeles City, Philippines. She was an only child. She was a resident of Four Corners Health Care Center for the past six years. She recently celebrated her 100th birthday. She is preceded in death by her husband Cpt. Eliseo V. Mallari ret., and daughter Elvira. Maura is survived by nine children: Ely Mallari of Austin, Texas, Lydia Mallari of Atlanta, Ga., Miriam Gottlieb of Marina Del Rey, Calif., Jerry Mallari of Durango, Colo., Will Mallari of Burnet, Texas, Clint Mallari of Eagle, Idaho, Jody Keller of Durango, Colorado, Monico Mallari of San Jose, Calif., and Bon Mallari of Las Vegas, Nev., sixteen grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren. Maura was a remarkable lady who overcame extreme adversities during WWII in the Philippines, with an absentee husband who fought in Bataan and served with the 26th Cavalry U.S. Army, later to be captured and walk the famous Bataan death march; he was one of only a few who escaped. A decorated soldier, he completed his 30-year career with the U.S. Army in 1958. It was Maura's faith in God and her tenacity and dream to bring all ten of her children to America so that they could receive the proper education only the U.S. could provide. In June of 1954 she emigrated to the U.S. with her children from her birth country, the Philippines. She worked for 30 years for Knott's Berry Farms in Buena Park, Calif., and retired twice with the company, helping her children and grandchildren with tuition so they could obtain their degrees. With her numerous talents she supplemented her income by sewing dresses for weddings and cooking food for parties. She enjoyed gardening and traveling to other countries, twice to Russia, Germany, France, England, and visiting relatives in the Philippines. Later in life, in 1995, they sold their home in Buena Park, Calif., and went to live with their eldest son, Ely, who cared for them. In 2006 she came to Durango to be cared for by her son Jerry. Maura will be missed by her family and friends.