By Michelle Corsilles, daughter

Adelaida Corsilles, “Aida” to all who knew her, was born in Carino, Paniqui, Tarlac, Philippines. Youngest of three to Valeriana and Miguel Estioco, she graduated from Far Eastern University in Nursing, where she met her husband Diony, then a law student at the same university. Aida followed Diony to Seattle in the late 1960’s, their new home. They quickly found a church home at Beacon United Methodist Church (“Beacon UMC”), a community homebase at various Filipino American and Seattle based organizations, and raised their four children.

Aida served as President of the United Methodist Women of Beacon UMC, Filipino Nurses Association of Seattle, and the Filipino Women’s Caring Group of Washington. She also served on the Atlantic Street Center Board and garnered numerous awards from the community for her dedication and leadership. Both she and her husband were honored as Hermano and Hermana Mayor and Parents of the Year of the Filipino Community of Seattle, Inc.

What these titles alone may not illustrate was Aida’s dazzling smile and heart of steel. She was a firecracker of charm and confidence, while also deeply caring and hardworking, especially when volunteering. A communication maestro, she was fluent in five Filipino dialects and excelled in a decades long nursing career, though her true passion was celebrating achievements of historically marginalized communities. Whether at church, any multitude of Filipino community organizations, or in partnership with Diony, mom always strived to empower and lift up community in all she did.

I remember clearly mom carting us three kids (her youngest had not yet been born) to the International District to visit the Manongs, a term of respect and endearment of the elderly Filipino bachelors living in the Alps Hotel, often with no family to tend to their needs. Aida is survived by her four children and their families: Michelle Corsilles and Paul Ambrosio and their children, Joshua and Phoebe; Dr. Michael Corsilles and Eunice Gong and their children Marcus and Tala; Rev. Dione Corsilles and Dr. Sarah Agtarap and their children Jonah, Emma, and Mia; and Jonathan Corsilles. Aida is also survived by her siblings Lydia “Rosie” Fontanilla and family and Rudy Estioco Sr. and family.