Agnes Cecilia Bacalzo's Obituary
Born June 13, 1934 in Chicago, IL to Leander de la Cruz and Cecilia De Biase Siegfried de la Cruz. She was the first of five siblings: Robert, Thomas, Edward and Virginia. She passed away April 15, 2018.Agnes was a member of the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Chicago. She graduated from St. Michael’s Central High in 1952 and attended Mundelein College, first child of a graduate to attend.Dance was Agnes’ professional passion. While in high school the Nuns gave their permission for her to travel with a dance company as long as she turned in her school assignments. She was a straight A student. Her last and most notable was dancing with a nightly show at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. Soon after she married Pacifico Bacalzo an architect, in 1954.They had three loving children: David Anthony Bacalzo, husband Tom Donahue, Laura Ann Rolandelli, husband Richard Rolandelli and Linda Marie Atlason, and husband Chris Atlason.In 1964 they moved to Puerto Rico to enjoy better weather and a new culture. Her husband established his architectural office. Agnes worked for the Grolier Company as a secretary and finally for the San Juan Convention Bureau.The family purchased a beautiful home which ultimately became a gathering place for the growing Filipino Community. With the blessing of the Philippines Consulate, the State Department of Puerto Rico would contact the Bacalzo family of incoming dignitaries from the Philippines, and there was so many. Most weekends were social affairs hosted by Agnes.Agnes was instrumental in forming the first Filipino Women’s Club of Puerto Rico, starting with almost two dozen members. One of the annual activities by the Club was to showcase the music and the dance of the Philippines, mostly held in local hotels.In their 63 years of marriage they have enjoyed travel to almost every part of the world. In 1976 they returned to the mainland settling in Dallas, TX. Agnes soon joined the Dallas Convention Bureau as a supervisor and translator. She retired in 2010 and the family relocated to Frisco, TX to be near their children and grandchildren, Christina LeAnn Rolandelli in 3rd year Medical School, Juliana Cecilia Rolandelli an Electrical Engineering Senior, Sabrina Danielle Rolandelli a soon to be student at the University of Texas and Julie Michelle Atlason, High School Freshman.Visitation will be observed at Restland Funeral Home Sunday, April 22, 2018 from 2:00pm until 4:00pm. Funeral service for Agnes will be held Monday, April 23, 2018 at 11:00 AM at the Restland Memorial Chapel. The address for Restland is 13005 Greenville Avenue, at Restland Road, Dallas, Texas 75243.
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