Purisima 'Puring' (Balite) Opinaldo

PURISIMA BALITE OPINALDO, or Puring to family and friends, was born on Dec. 8, 1932 and died peacefully at around 1:30 pm on July 30, 2020.  She is survived by her husband, Francisco Jr., four loving children, Philma, Susie, Liezl and Edward, their spouses and fiancée, Rodney, Rene, Wilbert, Ava, her grandchildren, Angelica, Alessandra, Andrew, Liam, Zoe, Veronique and Margeaux, and her loving sister, Pilar.

Puring lived a full, wonderful, and selfless life.  She was born in an island called Camiguin in the Philippines.  As a young woman prior to getting married, she saw firsthand and survived a catastrophic volcano eruption.  She lived through American Occupation of the Philippines, World War II and the ensuing Japanese Occupation.  Puring often told her children/grandchildren fascinating stories about how Japanese soldiers visited their home to ask for food in exchange for bayonets.  Being the eldest child, she would narrate how she hurriedly dragged and carried her siblings, who were toddlers at that time, to the mountains to escape the Japanese bombings.

Puring was born to Leon Balite Sr. and Guadalupe Macatol, who were both public school teachers.   Puring followed in their footsteps and became a public-school teacher herself albeit with great sacrifices.  With Puring’s characteristic humility and selflessness, she cut short her schooling from four to two years so that she could work and earn income as a schoolteacher quickly in order to help her younger siblings go to school.  Puring’s loving sacrifice had borne fruit and all her siblings became successful as a Judge, an Engineer, a Doctor and a Registered Nurse.  The sacrifices she did for her siblings were replicated for her children.

On a lighter note, Puring was a loyal friend and confidant to everyone, from schoolteachers to neighbors.  She was also an active church volunteer and a long-time member of the Catholic Women’s League.  She was an avid morning walker.  Puring also loved to read entertainment magazines from cover to cover.

While she may have had hardships to endure, Puring had an easygoing character.  It was easy to please her and make her laugh.  She was ultra-kind, as anyone who knew her would agree.  She was a “saint.”  She will be sorely missed.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Cotrell Funeral Service is honored to serve the family of Purisima “Puring’ Balite Opinaldo.