Avelina P. Estanislao Laxa, M.D., of San Antonio, TX, was called home by the Lord on Monday, May 28, 2018. She was 85. Avelina was born in the Philippines on April 3, 1933, to Arcadio Estanislao and Feliza Payumo Estanislao. She attended the University of Santo Tomas in Manila where she earned her medical degree. In 1957, she moved to Des Moines, IA to do her internship in pediatrics. She married Antonio A. Laxa, M.D., in 1958 and together they had three children. They divorced in 2007.

Avelina completed her internship and moved to Detroit, MI where she finished her residency at Detroit Receiving Hospital. After practicing as a pediatrician for over a decade, she changed specialties and became one of the first female radiologists in Michigan. She practiced in the Detroit metropolitan area for several years and later moved to Arizona where she worked in various hospitals and clinics in Cochise and Maricopa counties including the Southeast Arizona Medical Center in Douglas where she was the Chief of Staff.  In 2011, at the age of 78, she retired and moved to San Antonio to live with her youngest son Pierre.

Always an adventurer at heart, Avelina loved to travel and experience new people, places, and things. During her lifetime, she was blessed to visit several places around the United States and the world including a solo trip to the Holy Land in 2010.  She was also a breast cancer survivor since 2000.  Avelina lived her entire life with bravery, unwavering principles, generosity, humor, and a deep devotion and love for God and her family.  She was well-loved and will be greatly missed.

Avelina is survived by her children Rowena (David Brown) of Chandler, AZ; Tony Jr. (Michelle) of Commerce Township, MI; and Pierre of San Antonio, TX. She was preceded in death by five sisters and one brother.  Her surviving siblings are Iraida Tulod of Long Beach, CA, Fely Lagman of Los Angeles, CA, and Norma Simsuangco of Glendora, CA.

SERVICES

A funeral mass will be held on
Friday, June 1, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. at
Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church
223 E. Summit at McCullough

Avelina will then go to her final resting place at
Cordi-Marian Resurrection Cemetery

MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Memorial donations may be made in Avelina's name to:

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Antonio

or

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul of San Antonio