Obituary for Emelia Beatriz Requina Baskett
Emelia Beatriz Requina Baskett was born on July 31, 1935 in the barangay of Sohoton in Badian, Cebu of the Philippine Islands. She was the third of thirteen children born to the late Miguel and Beatriz (Barit) Requina.
Emelia, had many nicknames such as “Meling,” “Maylene,” and “Aunt Nini”. However, long before becoming a true grandmother with the birth of her only biological grandchild, Jordan Michael Baskett-Pee, Emelia loved being, “Lola”. “Lola” means ‘grandmother’ in the national language of the Philippines. It’s also a term of love and respect. She was “Lola” to many, including her children’s spouses and friends.
Emelia saw snow for the first time when she immigrated to the United States in December, 1958 as a young military bride of John Elliott Baskett. They had one daughter, Susan Enuice Baskett. As her marriage deteriorated, Emelia bravely sought a new home in Ann Arbor. Her childhood friend, the Restituta Elegino Hunter, encouraged to take advantage of the plentiful jobs, good schools and a welcoming environment for newcomers. Emelia and Restituta later welcomed another friend from their hometown, Norma Amorado Brown Kelly and her son, Michael.
Emelia established deep roots in Ann Arbor, meeting wonderful life-long friends, like Berniece James Holman whose son, Victor, has remained like another son/brother to Emelia and her family. Emelia loved meeting new people, especially newly arrived Filipinos. She and Norma became famous for their weekend long Pokeno games and good food. Emelia’s egg rolls are legendary.
Shortly after arriving in Ann Arbor, Emelia met Bossie Atkins, the father of their son, Jeffrey Van Atkins. Years later, while working at the University Medical Center, she met Samuel Gordon who became the father of Emelia’s youngest son, Sanmiguel David Gordon.
Emelia left the University of Michigan to work briefly at the Chrysler Motor Company. After being laid off by Chrysler in 1978, Emelia decided to establish her own business. Despite not finishing high school, Emelia successfully completed a college level course to become a licensed daycare owner and operator, specializing in serving children with special needs. “Baskett Childcare” began in 1979 with her first daycare baby, Oscar Caraan, Jr. She was so proud of “Jun-Jun” and the other daycare babies. Lola had her favorite daycare babies and loved being invited to special moments in their lives, like graduations and weddings. She kept nearly each and every Christmas card sent by them with their pictures and those of their own babies.
Emelia loved babies, gardening, crocheting, cooking, traveling, Michigan football and giving gifts. Born of a sustenance farmer, Lola could successfully grow her vegetables organically and loved sharing them with neighbors, like Marcia Briant, Serafina Soler and Ok Cha Lindsey. She would brag that she had the best neighbors ever. She felt secure in living alone independently until her death because she knew that her neighbors were only a phone call away.
An unassuming woman, Emelia educated her children, including the daycare babies, not by many words, but by action. Be strong, but loving. Be independent and self-reliant, but also gracious. Be giving, but not manipulated. Despite living modestly in the U.S., Lola made it a priority to support her family in the Philippines. She gave generously and she gave often, allowing them opportunities that they would not otherwise have had. Her own children benefited greatly from her support of their education and career choices.
Emelia’s faith in God kept her positive during some of the most distressing times: the Japanese invasion of the Philippines during WWII; braving a new country, as a new mother; establishing a new home with few resources. She always acknowledged God’s blessings and she believed in holding one’s self, accountable. She noted a prayer from St. Anthony of Padua, “With love in our hearts, we will approach God with humility, others with compassion, and ourselves with respect and honor.”
Due to her faith, Emelia sought no heroic medical interventions. She always brushed off her children’s concerns of her health by saying she lives by “God’s will”. Despite her challenges living with diabetes, hypertension, cardiac issues and chronic kidney disease, Lola stubbornly lived life on her own terms.
Some of Lola’s happiest moments were voting as a new US citizen; attending an UM football game (from a spectator’s suite!); watching her children graduate from high school and college; being present for her children’s weddings and traveling to Jamaica for her grandson’s wedding.
It was God’s will to take Emelia from this life on November 26, 2021 at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ypsilanti, Michigan. This was a surprise to us, including her doctors. They were prepared to release her from the hospital the next day.
Emelia is survived by her brothers, Vicente and Avelino and her second set of siblings: Marciano, Cristita, Ricardo, Irenia and Arsenia; as well as her US stateside cousin, Mercedes Rivera Richardson (and her children: Harold, Jr., Christina and Alicia).
Lola leaves behind a host of close friends like Norma Kelly, Restituta and Wayne Bornero, Bobby and Glenda Wright (Sanmiguel’s godparents), Meding Robinson and loving neighbors, Marcia and Ralph Briant.
Forever cherishing her memory are her children and their offspring: Susan (Leon Mills), grandson, Jordan (Andrea Johnson); Jeffrey Atkins (Montonya McDaniel), step-grandchildren Louis McDaniel and Kelley (Javon Strong; their sons, Kaylen and Landen); and Sanmiguel (Carly O’Neal).
A visitation will take place Wednesday, December 8, 2021 from 4-8pm with Sharing of Memories at 6pm at Nie Family Funeral Home, 2400 Carpenter Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48108. Thursday, December 9, 2021 a funeral mass will be held at 11:30am at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 2250 E. Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. The church will be conducting a live stream of the funeral mass. Please check their website at the time of service for the link at https://www.stfrancisa2.com/. The family is requesting all guests wear a mask while attending the services.
Emelia, had many nicknames such as “Meling,” “Maylene,” and “Aunt Nini”. However, long before becoming a true grandmother with the birth of her only biological grandchild, Jordan Michael Baskett-Pee, Emelia loved being, “Lola”. “Lola” means ‘grandmother’ in the national language of the Philippines. It’s also a term of love and respect. She was “Lola” to many, including her children’s spouses and friends.
Emelia saw snow for the first time when she immigrated to the United States in December, 1958 as a young military bride of John Elliott Baskett. They had one daughter, Susan Enuice Baskett. As her marriage deteriorated, Emelia bravely sought a new home in Ann Arbor. Her childhood friend, the Restituta Elegino Hunter, encouraged to take advantage of the plentiful jobs, good schools and a welcoming environment for newcomers. Emelia and Restituta later welcomed another friend from their hometown, Norma Amorado Brown Kelly and her son, Michael.
Emelia established deep roots in Ann Arbor, meeting wonderful life-long friends, like Berniece James Holman whose son, Victor, has remained like another son/brother to Emelia and her family. Emelia loved meeting new people, especially newly arrived Filipinos. She and Norma became famous for their weekend long Pokeno games and good food. Emelia’s egg rolls are legendary.
Shortly after arriving in Ann Arbor, Emelia met Bossie Atkins, the father of their son, Jeffrey Van Atkins. Years later, while working at the University Medical Center, she met Samuel Gordon who became the father of Emelia’s youngest son, Sanmiguel David Gordon.
Emelia left the University of Michigan to work briefly at the Chrysler Motor Company. After being laid off by Chrysler in 1978, Emelia decided to establish her own business. Despite not finishing high school, Emelia successfully completed a college level course to become a licensed daycare owner and operator, specializing in serving children with special needs. “Baskett Childcare” began in 1979 with her first daycare baby, Oscar Caraan, Jr. She was so proud of “Jun-Jun” and the other daycare babies. Lola had her favorite daycare babies and loved being invited to special moments in their lives, like graduations and weddings. She kept nearly each and every Christmas card sent by them with their pictures and those of their own babies.
Emelia loved babies, gardening, crocheting, cooking, traveling, Michigan football and giving gifts. Born of a sustenance farmer, Lola could successfully grow her vegetables organically and loved sharing them with neighbors, like Marcia Briant, Serafina Soler and Ok Cha Lindsey. She would brag that she had the best neighbors ever. She felt secure in living alone independently until her death because she knew that her neighbors were only a phone call away.
An unassuming woman, Emelia educated her children, including the daycare babies, not by many words, but by action. Be strong, but loving. Be independent and self-reliant, but also gracious. Be giving, but not manipulated. Despite living modestly in the U.S., Lola made it a priority to support her family in the Philippines. She gave generously and she gave often, allowing them opportunities that they would not otherwise have had. Her own children benefited greatly from her support of their education and career choices.
Emelia’s faith in God kept her positive during some of the most distressing times: the Japanese invasion of the Philippines during WWII; braving a new country, as a new mother; establishing a new home with few resources. She always acknowledged God’s blessings and she believed in holding one’s self, accountable. She noted a prayer from St. Anthony of Padua, “With love in our hearts, we will approach God with humility, others with compassion, and ourselves with respect and honor.”
Due to her faith, Emelia sought no heroic medical interventions. She always brushed off her children’s concerns of her health by saying she lives by “God’s will”. Despite her challenges living with diabetes, hypertension, cardiac issues and chronic kidney disease, Lola stubbornly lived life on her own terms.
Some of Lola’s happiest moments were voting as a new US citizen; attending an UM football game (from a spectator’s suite!); watching her children graduate from high school and college; being present for her children’s weddings and traveling to Jamaica for her grandson’s wedding.
It was God’s will to take Emelia from this life on November 26, 2021 at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ypsilanti, Michigan. This was a surprise to us, including her doctors. They were prepared to release her from the hospital the next day.
Emelia is survived by her brothers, Vicente and Avelino and her second set of siblings: Marciano, Cristita, Ricardo, Irenia and Arsenia; as well as her US stateside cousin, Mercedes Rivera Richardson (and her children: Harold, Jr., Christina and Alicia).
Lola leaves behind a host of close friends like Norma Kelly, Restituta and Wayne Bornero, Bobby and Glenda Wright (Sanmiguel’s godparents), Meding Robinson and loving neighbors, Marcia and Ralph Briant.
Forever cherishing her memory are her children and their offspring: Susan (Leon Mills), grandson, Jordan (Andrea Johnson); Jeffrey Atkins (Montonya McDaniel), step-grandchildren Louis McDaniel and Kelley (Javon Strong; their sons, Kaylen and Landen); and Sanmiguel (Carly O’Neal).
A visitation will take place Wednesday, December 8, 2021 from 4-8pm with Sharing of Memories at 6pm at Nie Family Funeral Home, 2400 Carpenter Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48108. Thursday, December 9, 2021 a funeral mass will be held at 11:30am at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 2250 E. Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. The church will be conducting a live stream of the funeral mass. Please check their website at the time of service for the link at https://www.stfrancisa2.com/. The family is requesting all guests wear a mask while attending the services.