Marina Espinosa

On May 27th, 2024, Marina Lagana Espinosa, a loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, and grandma, passed away peacefully at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in the City of Paterson, New Jersey after a courageous, short battle with tongue cancer.

Marina was born to Demetrio and Carmen Lagana, and graduated from High School in Janiuay, Iloilo Philippines. She continued her education at the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City  where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce major in Accounting.

After college, she worked as an auditor at the General Auditing Office, now Commission on Audit , a government agency in the Philippines that examines, audits and settles all accounts and expenditures of the funds and properties of the Philippine government. She was assigned at  the following facilities namely, Iloilo Science and Technology, Iloilo National High School, West Visayas State University, National Police Commision, and  Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and was promoted as an Auditor III before she retired after forty-seven years of service at the age of sixty-three.

Marina was a generous, optimistic, strong and selfless soul. She loved the simple things in life with her precious family. As so many can attest, Marina was always someone who loved to help those in need. Others,  before herself.

Marina met the love of her life Romulo Jr. while she was having lunch in one of the restaurants near Iloilo National High School where she was working at that time. They were introduced by a common friend and from then on, they were inseparable. They got married on December 27, 1971 at the Jaro Cathedral in Iloilo City Philippines. They have enjoyed a loving and devoted marriage of fifty-three years.

Marina is survived by her husband Romulo Jr, her children, Kim and his wife Elana Katia, and Nikki and her life partner, David. Her three grandchildren, Trinity, Angelo, and Liam. Her sisters and their spouses, Susana Camartin (Hipolito +),  Rosita Gascon (Bebot), Pacita Perucho (Abcede) and Lucila Ybarzabal (Eliseo +) and many nieces, nephews. She was predeceased by her father, Demetrio, her mother, Carmen and her sister Estela Cataluna.

Marina will be greatly missed by her loving family and will always be remembered in their hearts.

We are sincerely grateful to the many friends who have given us support and comfort during this time of loss.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Oral Cancer Foundation would greatly be appreciated.