Virgilia Arcilla Mira

It is with great sadness that the family of Virgilia "Virgie" Arcilla Mira announces her passing on Friday, June 26, 2020 in Orosi, California, at the age of 81. She was surrounded by her family. Virgie was born on May 3, 1939 in Ormoc City on the island of Leyte in the Philippines to Daniel Arcilla and Esperanza Lahoylahoy Arcilla. Her younger brothers are Alfredo Arcilla and Samuelito Arcilla. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Ramon; their 3 children, Ronaldo, Marjorie, and Ethel; and their 2 grandchildren, Romnik and Ryan. At the age of 3, Virgie faced one of the most defining moments in history, World War II. Living in the Philippines, Virgie and her family had to try to evade the Japanese invasion of Leyte, moving throughout the island, hiding, and fighting the Japanese soldiers. Virgie's mother, at the time, was heavily pregnant with Virgie's brother Alfredo. With the stress of the invasion, Virgie's mother passed away in childbirth. Motherless, Virgie and her brother were left in the care of her aunts. Virgie, inheriting her mother's strength, prospered in school. She worked hard and was accepted to a prestigious private university. Since she did not want to add additional hardship to her family, Virgie entered beauty pageants to pay for her schooling. She was the first in her family to complete high school and university to become a professional, a nurse. After graduating from nursing school, Virgie was accepted in a nursing exchange program that would send her halfway around the world. She had a choice of various prominent hospitals, John Hopkins in Maryland and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, to name a few. She ultimately selected the Mayo Clinic, which was the top hospital at that time. The exchange program allowed her to travel and explore other countries (Hong Kong, Canada, US). She even met famed astronaut, Neil Armstrong, who happened to be on the same flight she was on. She would say that she thought he would be much taller in person, gravity must have taken its toll! Her experience at the Mayo Clinic not only nourished her thirst of knowledge within her field, it also allowed her to help the family that graciously took her and her brother in. She lived meagerly and saved whatever money she could. Her savings put her younger brothers to school, and she encouraged them to obtain a degree. Although the Mayo Clinic wanted her to stay, Virgie would eventually return to the Philippines. She became a head nurse in the largest hospital in Leyte, OSPA. She married and later became a mother of three. Besides working as a nurse and being a mother, she was also a businesswoman. She managed the family farm, overseeing the crops of rice, sugarcane, coconut, and fruits, and supervised the transportation of the crops for sale to the market. Virgie remained in the Philippines for a few years. However, having seen the opportunities the US could provide her children, she and her husband decided to move their family to the US. She leveraged her connections from her exchange program and soon accepted a nursing position that would bring her and her husband to Texas, and later to California, which they found to be a more suitable location to raise their family. In California, Virgie worked at various hospitals in the Central Valley, working long shifts, yet still always finding the time to help her children with homework, doing bedtime check-ins, and ensuring that breakfast was had before dropping them off to school. Virgie was the quintessential giver. She never asked for anything. She often put everyone's needs and wants above her own. She not only provided for her children, but also her family back in the Philippines. She helped care for her aunts, nieces, nephews, and cousins. She not only assisted financially, but emotionally with encouragement, guidance and support. Virgie also gave much of herself to her patients. She loved them a great deal. They were like family to her. She grieved each time she lost one. She was a staunch advocate for them and would challenge doctors to ensure that they did not over-prescribe medication that could potentially harm her patients. If she knew she was right, she would not back down, no matter who she was up against. Virgie even refused to join the nurse's union, foregoing a higher pay, because she felt that joining would put the union above her patient. She often mentioned that she took the Nightingale Pledge (nurse's Hippocratic oath) to do no harm and she meant to abide by it. Virgie was an amazing nurse and cared greatly about the people around her. All who met her, loved her, including the famous family members (Olympians and famous authors) of her patients. She became a part of their family. Virgie loved being a nurse and being with her patients, that it was often a struggle to convince her to go on vacation. In fact, she retired at 70 only because she developed health problems that prevented her from being on her feet for so long. Despite retirement, she often contemplated going back to work on a part-time basis and continued to keep track of changes in the nursing profession. Virgie possessed two vices, basketball and the slot machines. Both were her favorite pastimes. She never missed a Lakers' and Warriors' game, and she had a knack for knowing when those slot machines would give. She used to say that if she had a strange dream, that meant that the slots were ready to give. Before you knew it, she was donning on her lucky shirt, asking the Tribal Indian Spirit for assistance, and making her mecca to the closest casino. Truthfully, it was wonderful to see her so carefree, enjoying her pastime, lost in the flashing lights, howling coyotes, or swirling dragons of the machines around her. She at times encountered friends and neighbors at the casino and was embarrassed at being caught, but would ultimately come home, excited about the bounty she received, recounting every juicy detail of how the Tribal Indian Spirit granted her a boon. The last year was difficult, as the cancer prevented her from enjoying her favorite pastimes. Virgie's battle with ovarian cancer solidified to those around her how extraordinarily strong she was, despite her small stature. She went through a pacemaker surgery, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, endured countless chemo treatments, developed shingles, sepsis, and infections, and never complained. She faced each obstacle head on and fought to the very end. Being the caring person she was, through all her challenges, her main concern was the welfare of her family. That was Virgie for you, selfless, caring, loving, strong. The funeral service details for Virgie are as follows: Viewing on Monday, July 6th from 4-6pm followed by the Rosary at 6pm at Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel in Visalia. The funeral will be on Tuesday, July 7th at Saint Catherine's Catholic Church in Dinuba at 1pm with graveside service to follow at Smith Mountain Cemetery in Dinuba. All attendees are required to wear a face mask to the events. The family will be providing KN95 face masks, gloves, and face shields. Salser & Dillard will provide hand sanitizers. Due to Covid-19 and ensuring the safety of Virgie's family and friends, the family will not be hosting a reception, but they hope to have a Celebration of Life for Virgie at a later date. For those who are unable to attend, the Rosary will be live streamed at www.salseranddillard.com . For additional information on the venues, please refer to the Salser & Dillard website.

Virgilia Arcilla Mira

May 3, 1939 - June 26, 2020