Hideliza Alvez Faraon

May 13, 1938 - February 26, 2022

Hideliza Alvez Faraon, known to many as Heidi, age 83, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 26, 2022 at Sutter Solano Hospital in Vallejo, California. She was born May 13, 1938 in Cebu, Philippines (Ph), the daughter of the late Nemesio Sr. and Marianita Sanchez Alvez. Heidi graduated from Southern Island Hospital School of Nursing in 1957 and worked many years loving her chosen profession. She briefly served in the Philippine military where she met her late husband, Dr. Pablo Faraon, Sr. They had three children, Leslie, Michele and Jun, and spent many of their married years in Fernando Air Base, Lipa City, Philippines. There, together with her spouse, Heidi helped establish the first Family Planning Clinic, where she served as the first nurse to educate and provide service to the community. After her husband died abruptly in 1977, Heidi made the courageous decision to emigrate from the Philippines to the United States, to provide better opportunities for her children. So in 1980, she moved to California with her two younger children while her oldest daughter remained in the Philippines with her young family. Heidi continued to practice as a registered nurse after she successfully passed the licensing examination for the State of California on her first attempt. She spent most of her career working at the Veterans Home of Yountville in Napa County. She retired in 2004 after 20 years of service. Notably, she was the first ever Filipina nurse supervisor, and the first minority (non-white) employee to be a part of the management team for her hospital. She loved to travel, took many cruises, and spent her retirement years splitting her time between Manila and California. A devout Catholic, she was a long time parishioner of St. Dominic’s Church in Benicia. Heidi was intelligent, gregarious, dedicated, and full of life. She was a beautiful human and a delight to everyone who knew her. She is survived by daughters Leslie (Jay) Rabat of Manila, Ph and Michele (Paul) Dold of Benicia, CA; son Jun Faraon of San Francisco, CA; 5 grandchildren, Anna (Jaime) Okol Ladao of Henderson, NV, Karen Okol, Pauline (Franco) Jayme, Chiqui (Pat) Pelayo of Manila, Ph, and Patrick of Benicia, CA; 3 great grandchildren, Sebastian and Matteo of Henderson, NV, Emilio of Manila, Ph. She is also survived by her 2 brothers, Leo (Carol) Alvez of Cebu, Ph, Nemesio Jr. (Espie) Alvez of Edmonton, Canada, and 4 sisters Nunila (Phil) of Villa Park, CA, Belen Alvez, Marichu (Alex) Carvajal of Manila, Ph, and Corazon Raen of Trondheim, Norway, along with many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by her 3 brothers, Wilfredo, Arnoldo and Gemelo Alvez. A Funeral Mass is scheduled for 11:00 am on Thursday, March 24, 2022 at St. Dominic’s Church, 475 East I Street, Benicia, CA. Burial will follow at St. Dominic’s Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Skyview Memorial Lawn of Vallejo, CA. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her name to a charity of your choice, or any organization related to Alzheimer’s, Aging or Heart Disease.