EUGENIA TABELISMA Norwalk Eugenia Alipio Tabelisma, 94, passed away April 16, 2014 at the Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, after months of confinement at the Regency Care Center in Norwalk, Iowa. She was born on January 8, 1920, in the town formerly called San Jose, Nueva Ecija, in the Philippines, to the late Candido Alipio and Teodora Saturno. Affectionately called "Enyang" by her family, and "Inay" (Filipino for Mother') by her children and grandchildren, she was a great encourager and a reconciler to her family and friends. A faithful follower of Christ, she was one of the pioneer members of the United Methodist Church in her hometown in the Philippines where she was an active member of the Women's Society for Christian Service (WSCS), while also serving as a supporter of many missionaries and church workers in her province of Aurora. She was also passionate about gardening, fishing and cooking. She was married to the late Jesus A. Tabelisma, and their union was blessed with six children: Emmanuel, a preacher; Levi, a deaconess; Nathanael, a preacher; Exequiel, an agriculturist; Abel, a nurse; and Ruth, who passed away at the tender age of 6 in 1965. Eugenia came to the United States with her husband in 1988, to join her eldest son, Emmanuel, in Dunlap, Iowa. Since becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen, she has lived in Sioux City with her daughter Levi; in Council Bluffs, again with her daughter Levi, and later on, with her son Exequiel; and recently, with her daughter Abel, in Norwalk. In 2008, Eugenia went back to the Philippines, where she spent 4 of the most wonderful and happiest years of her life with her family, especially her loving grandchildren, and friends, until her return to Iowa in August 2012, this time with daughter Abel, with whom she lived in Norwalk. Eugenia is survived by her sons Emmanuel (married to Luzviminda), Nathanael (married to Rebecca) and Exequiel (married to Rosario); and daughters Levi (married to Victorio Noveras, Jr.) and Abel (married to Loreto Mendoza, Jr.); 17 grandchildren 11 great grandchildren; her beloved sisters Ruth Alipio Valdez and Lorenza Alipio Dumayag. She was preceded in death by her husband Jesus A. Tabelisma, her daughter Ruth, her granddaughter Evergrace, her 3 brothers and 1 sister. She lived her life according to her philosophy, "blessing instead of blasting, giving rather than getting, and loving rather than hating." A celebration of her life will be presided by Rev. Kiboko Kiboko at the Norwalk United Methodist Church on Saturday, April 19, 2014. The family will greet friends and relatives at 1:00 P.M. followed by the worship service at 2:00 P.M. The Committal Service will follow at the Norwalk Cemetery. Funeral services are under the direction of Overton Funeral Home, Indianola, Iowa. Online condolences may be made at www.overtonfunerals.com.