Luisa Marieta Jorge

Luisa Marieta Villanueva Zumel Jorge, beloved daughter, sister, cousin, wife, mother, stepmother, aunt, grandmother, and friend, passed away on May 8, 2025, in Elk Grove, California, at the age of 70. She embodied perseverance, resilience, and generosity. From humble beginnings in the rural Philippine countryside, she built a global nursing career, raised a family across continents, and poured love and care into every life she touched.

Born on June 21, 1954, in the small town of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, Luisa was the eldest child and only daughter of Primitivo Jamias Zumel and Benita Villanueva Zumel. She grew up in a home without electricity or running water, where the river served as both bathtub and laundry basin, and kerosene lamps lit the evenings. They harvested much of their food from their backyard gardens, from the mango trees, tobacco leaves, mongo beans, garlic, corn, and peanuts. Her father brewed basi, a sweet Ilocano wine, from fresh sugarcane, while her mother sold rice harvested from their family lands.

It was a life of hard work, but also one of abundance—simple, rooted in resourcefulness, faith, and joy. As a girl, Luisa played traditional Filipino games, read Bannawag magazine, and helped around the house alongside her three younger brothers. She was raised with deep ties to her extended family and a small-town rhythm shaped by church seasons and generational traditions. Even then, she was known for her quiet strength and deep sense of responsibility.

Luisa understood the power of education and applied herself diligently to her studies. She was given the gift of education when her Auntie Juana paid for her nursing school tuition, and with the help of Auntie Naty and Lolo Celo, her school allowances were covered. Luisa never took that gift for granted. Because others had been generous to her when she needed help, Luisa made sure to be kind and generous to others whenever she could.

She was part of the historic wave of Filipinos who migrated overseas for work in the last 50 years, and among a noble generation of nurses who answered the call to serve beyond their homeland. She completed her training at Pines General Hospital School of Nursing and later earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. With the support of her extended family and her own determined spirit, she became a licensed nurse in the Philippines in 1976. That milestone marked the beginning of a lifelong vocation, one that took her from hospitals in the provinces of the Visayas to modern medical centers in Kuwait and the United States.

While working abroad, Luisa met the love of her life, Danilo, and married in 1984. Together they built a life anchored in love, faith, and sacrifice. They raised three children—Lara, Kelvin, and Leah—in homes across California and Texas. Luisa was a devoted mother, nurturing her children with gentleness and wisdom. She was also proud to be a loving stepmother to Danilo’s two older daughters, Myra and Christina Ivy. Her greatest joy in recent years was being a grandma and lola to John, Larissa, Hallie, Clyde, Ruby, and most recently, fulfilling her dream of meeting her newest granddaughter, Linnie.

At home, Luisa’s family had the joy of living daily life with her for many decades. We’ll always remember how she slept during the day to prepare for her night shifts, then woke up to cook dinner for her family before heading to work. On her days off, she loved spending quality time with her family, working on sewing projects, or searching for the next thoughtful gift to send in the mail. And on special days, she was always up for a game of Scrabble, often winning with ease. When she got a smartphone, she quickly became a pro at sending birthday greetings and inspirational daily messages. She loved to explore new places, taking trips across the United States, Europe, and most meaningfully in recent years—back to her beloved Philippines.

She also cherished simple routines, like daily walks around the park with Danilo and their regular Saturday visits to the local farmer’s market. She enjoyed lunch dates with her Kaiser friends and even tried Zumba and water aerobics at the senior center across the street. She was also passionate about her faith and remained an active member of the Kingdom of Yahawah. She loved hearing from people and always paid close attention to the news you shared, asking thoughtful follow-up questions because she truly wanted to know more about your life.

To many, Luisa was most recognizable in her nursing scrubs, with a stethoscope around her neck and a calm, kind presence to share with patients and coworkers. Her decades-long career spanned the Philippines, Kuwait, Connecticut, Texas, and California. Whether attending deliveries, comforting elderly patients, or caring for the tiniest newborns in NICU wards, she brought skill, compassion, and quiet strength to every shift. She retired from Kaiser Permanente in 2021, closing out a 45-year legacy of excellence in nursing and gaining beloved “nursing sisters” along the way.

Luisa’s life was one of quiet strength, deep faith, and enduring love. She was a woman who gave more than she took, whether in the hospital ward, at the family table, or in the countless lives she touched along the way. She found joy in everyday beauty: a homecooked meal, a text message from a friend, a facetime call from her grandchildren, or a prayer spoken from the heart. Her legacy will live on in the care she gave and the family and friends that she cherished. We will miss her deeply, remember her daily, and carry her example forward with gratitude and love.

Survivors

Luisa is lovingly remembered by her dear husband of 40 years, Danilo Lim Jorge, and their children: Lara Jorge Fronczek and her husband Phillip Fronczek of Denton, Texas; Kelvin Dan Jorge of Elk Grove, California; and Leah Zumel Jorge Hanks and her husband Royce Hanks of Spring Valley, California.

She is also remembered by her stepdaughters, Myra Jorge Peterson (wife of Steve Peterson) of Rio Vista, California, and Christina Ivy Jorge of Torrance, California. She will be missed by her darling grandchildren—John Peterson, Larissa Fronczek, Hallie Fronczek, Clyde Fronczek, Ruby Hanks, and Linnie Hanks—who brought her immense joy and meaning in her later years.

Luisa leaves behind her brothers, Adolfo Zumel and Juan Zumel, and her sister-in-law, Lydia Zumel—the wife of her late brother, Pio—along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and dear friends across the Philippines, United States, and the world.

Preceded in Death By

Luisa was preceded in death by her parents, Primitivo Jamias Zumel and Benita Villanueva Zumel; her beloved stepmother, Adela Zumel; and her younger brother, Pio Zumel.

Funeral Services

A celebration of Luisa’s life will be held on Sunday, May 25, 2025, at East Lawn Elk Grove, 9189 E. Stockton Blvd., Elk Grove, California 95624.

Visitation will be at 9:30am followed by a funeral service beginning at 10:30am. Burial will immediately follow at the same location.

Messages of Condolence

Messages of condolence may be shared with the family on the funeral home’s online guestbook. Flowers may also be sent directly through the funeral home’s website.