Francisco Padua Jr.

Our oldest brother, Francisco Fernandez Padua Jr., Paquito or Kit whom he was known to family and friends, was born to Florencia Fernandez and Francisco Padua Sr. on August 8, 1949 in Bugallon, Ramon, Isabela, Philippines. He passed away on July 31, 2026. He was predeceased by his wife, Cely, and his parents, Francisco and Florencia. Francisco is survived by his siblings Macaria (+Jose) Ang, Victoria (Crisanto) Salamat, Leondres (Mergin) Padua, Patricia (Regino) Fronda, and Alemario (Rosevee) Padua, and many nieces and nephews. He was the third of six children and the oldest son.
In his formative years, Kit spent every day with our late grandmother Alejandra. Kit was very fond of our grandmother. She was his care provider while our mother Florencia went back to college to finish her degree in Education. One of my fondest memories growing up was, Kit playing as a priest whenever we played Mass as children. He was also the entertainer among the older children, (Vicky and Macaria), and he was especially attentive to all the ladies—young and old. When my mother became a teacher, the school was where Francisco played “saling -pusa”, he basically tagged along with mom.
Francisco entered the La Salette Minor Seminary during his junior year in high school until he graduated with an Associate of Arts degree from University of La Salette in Santiago Philippines. Once a year on the first Sunday of February, on the feast of the Presentation of the Child Jesus, the new seminarian postulates were given their crucifix. This was followed by a picnic with the families at the seminary grounds. These were some of the best memories that I had of Kit because we used to get the best takeout and ice cream from Spoon and Fork Restaurant.
Francisco then became a brother with the Missionaries of La Salette, and he was sent to study in Boston, Massachusetts, eventually transferring to University of Ottawa and Saint Paul University graduating with Baccalaureate degrees in Philosophy and Theology. In Francisco’s last year before his ordination to become a priest, while serving at the Most Holy Rosary Parish, Jones, Isabela, he met his first love Lolita Guillermo. She was a catechist. He left the seminary, and after discernment, Francisco moved to Manila. His first employment was at the Immaculate Conception Academy Manila, teaching high school. He also worked as a traveling salesman driving all over northern Luzon and to Davao City. He loved to drive.
In the late seventies, he became a professor at the College of Arts and Letters, Lyceum of the Philippines, teaching Philosophy, Ethics and French. He made many new friends. His colleagues and students loved and adored “Mr. Padua.”
Then after almost 11 years of dating, Francisco and Lolita got engaged and finally married on May 19, 1984. My brother was ecstatic. However, his marriage was short-lived and would end in tragedy, with Lolita dying in his arms from a bus crash. Her tragic death brought him loss and grief. But my brother was resilient. He continued teaching for a year, until he immigrated back to the United States.
He settled down in Fresno with my parents and our sister Victoria’s family, in January 1986. Francisco became the official driver of the family. He would drive visitors around town, to Yosemite, to SFO or LAX, to Las Vegas and even to the Grand Canyon. He worked as a postal clerk, mail carrier as well as a post master whenever they needed him to. He started at a small town, Tranquility, CA and he was eventually stationed at Fowler, CA until his retirement. Francisco was well known and well-liked by his community in Fowler. Francisco always made friends with anyone he met, no one was stranger to him.
He eventually found love again, with Celedonia, “Cely,” marrying into the Guillermo family for the second time. Francisco and Celedonia did not have any children, but my brother was the best uncle to all his nieces and nephews on both sides of the family. He gave them the best gifts at Christmas and on their birthdays. He was the brother I turned to when I needed a ride. He would take the children to soccer practice or to the hospital, andhe would eventually drive them to college orientations, their college move in days. And of course he was at all the graduations, christenings and weddings.
Francisco was generous with his time, talent and wealth. He sang and danced whenever he was invited. And Francisco and Celedonia also sent many relatives in the Philippines to college.
Unfortunately, my brother had a second tragedy when he lost his second wife to sudden death. When my sister-in-law became ill, he became her caregiver. He retired from the post office to care for Cely full time. He was a very devoted and loving husband to Cely.
Francisco also had a strong faith. He was always religious, loving, kind and caring. He never spoke ill of anyone. Since he was always religious, even when he became homebound due to physical limitations and pain, he still watched the mass on YouTube or on TV on EWTN.
And during his last years, even with all his physical ailments and pains, he still drove— as far as Las Vegas. He drove until a month before he died. He was a jokester. He was still making jokes before he went to sleep the night before he passed. He was so kind and sweet and generous until his last day. That is my brother Kit, ready to give away the shirt on his back if you need it.
We love you, Kit. We know you are now making everyone laugh up there. Rest easy, Manong.