Our beloved mother, wife, grandmother, sister and friend, Minerva San Miguel, passed away in the early Saturday morning hours of November 25th, 2023. She returned to the stars with many of her loved ones surrounding her.

Minerva was born in San Quintin, Pangasinan, Philippines on February 8th, 1951, to parents Natividad and  Macario Abella. She was the 4th child out of 9 children. She grew up tending to the family farm and decided to pursue her degree in nursing with the blessing of her mother and father. With the help of her siblings, whether it was cooking for her or keeping her company in the dormitories, Minerva was able to graduate from Far Eastern University.

With her nursing degree, Minerva was able to move to the United States. She lived in Kalihi, Hawaii for two years before settling in Pittsburg, California in the early 1980s. There, she met her husband, Rollie San Miguel, through mutual friends. They had their daughter, Mary Ann, in 1986 and lived a peaceful quiet life in the same residence for over 35 years . Minerva was a loyal wife, fiercely loving mother,  supportive sister, proud auntie, and kind friend. Many members of her large extensive family also settled in Pittsburg. Not only did she gain a husband, a daughter and many nieces and nephews, she also gained two siblings in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Minerva loved being in community; having many of her loved ones close by gave her the greatest joy.

Minerva made sure everyone was happy and taken care of. She was a firm believer in education and would ensure all the children in the family were ready for school every morning. Through her guidance, Mary Ann earned her bachelor's degree in Political Science and is currently a candidate for her Masters in Library and Information Science. Minerva's many nieces and nephews have also pursued higher education due in part to her guidance, support, and love.

During the 2020 pandemic, Minerva became a grandmother. On August 28th, 2020, Jack was born to Mary Ann and Will. Jack lovingly called her "Yaya," since he couldn't correctly pronounce the Filipino word "Lola." That nickname will remain always and forever. Yaya loved Jack with all her heart and soul. Jack, in return, always wanted his Yaya and Yoyo around to play with him and bring surprises.  Our best and funniest memory is when Jack took it upon himself to imitate the "Yaya Walk."

Minerva could light up a room wherever she went. She embodied joy and she made everyone feel loved. Minerva was an incredibly dedicated worker. To balance out her hard work, Minerva's hobbies embodied finding happiness in the quiet details of life. She had a love for flowers and gardens, long road trips, books, fashion, good food, and music. Minerva had a natural penchant for photography and has kept her vintage cameras close by for many years. Her musical tastes included Patsy Cline, The Righteous Brothers, Prince, Tom Jones, and The Beatles. She enjoyed taking weekend trips to Reno to visit the snow and playing in the Midway at Circus Circus. Our family took many trips to Disneyland, San Diego, Universal Studios, and Hawaii. Minerva loved watching basketball and would always root for her Warriors. She enjoyed the Winter Olympics and would watch figure skating whenever she can. Her way of relaxing was to be cozy. This means that you would typically find her in her favorite robe cuddled in blankets, relaxing on the couch with hot beverages and a tray of pastries to share.

Minerva is and will be deeply missed. She is incredibly loved, and we are forever grateful to have the time to be blessed with her powerful love and light.

Minerva is preceded in death her parents, Natividad and Macario Abella and her brothers Alfredo and Eliezar Abella. She is survived by her husband Rollie, her daughter Mary Ann (Will), her grandson Jack, her siblings Abraham, Milagros, Vilma, Teddy, Remy, Susan, Mark, and Roxanne, and her many many nephews, nieces, and cousins.

A viewing and rosary will be held on Monday, December 11th from 2 to 6 PM. The rosary will begin promptly at 4 PM at The Pittsburg Funeral Chapel. A  funeral service will be held on Tuesday December 12th, 2023, at 12:00 PM at The Good Shepherd Church in Pittsburg.