Wilfredo Abuan Macaraeg

It is with great sorrow to share the passing of our dearly beloved, Wilfredo Abuan Macaraeg, on June 12, 2024 at the age of 87 in Clara Maass Medical Center, NJ.
Known to many as Willie, he was a man of profound wisdom and virtue. He was born to humble parents, Dominador T. Macaraeg and Rufina B. Abuan on December 5, 1936 in Moncada, Tarlac, Philippines, where he spent most of his childhood.
Growing up in difficult times during post-WW2, Willie became even more determined to attain higher education. He graduated with Bachelor of Laws in 1959 at the University of Santo Tomas and successfully passed the Bar exams in the same year. Immediately, he was hired as the Municipal Secretary of Moncada, Tarlac. He would later join the Senate of the Philippines as chief of staff to a Senator. With his remarkable experience in the Senate, he was appointed acting Provincial Fiscal of the province of Tarlac. He was most notably known as the head of the local government in Moncada, where he was elected Mayor from 1980 to 1986 after his appointment in 1979. He was awarded Outstanding Mayor of the Philippines during his tenure and graduated on top of his class at the University of the Philippines Diliman with a public administration degree. Following the transition of the government in 1986, he was forced to flee the Philippines and tried to seek political asylum in the USA where, eventually, he worked as the Music Administrator at St. Thomas Church in Manhattan, NYC.
Throughout his lifetime, Willie remained humble and loyal with immense love for God, his country and his family.
Preceded him in peace were his loving parents Dominador T. Macaraeg and Rufina B. Abuan, and his younger brother, Dominador A. Macaraeg, Jr.
He was survived by his good wife, Trinidad and wonderful nine children: Luz Imelda, Ramon & wife Melda, Eduardo, Leila Teresita & husband Placido Lucas, Cecilia, Helen Monica & husband Emmanuel, Maria Aurora, Maria Cristina, Jesus Wilfredo Jr. & wife Marlyn; And surrounded by his grandchildren: Walter George, Jay Wilfredo, Marcos, Sistine Trina, Garev, Karen Patricia, Katrina Paula, Francis Patrick, Kristina Paulina, John Patrick, Kresencia, Mary Jan, Maria Monica, Mary Emmanuelle, Ivan Dominic, Jacquelyn Au; And great grandchildren: Georjen, Karlo Rufino ll, Kristian Paolo, Vriane, Kaitlyn Summer.
Visitation will be held on Monday, June 17, 2024 and Tuesday, June 18, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Zuasola Funeral Homes of New Jersey, 44 Bay Ave., Bloomfield, NJ 07003.
All are invited to meet at the funeral home on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at 8:00 AM for a Funeral Mass at 10:30 AM at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 120 Prospect St., Nutley, NJ. Interment will be at Glendale Cemetery, 28 Hoover Ave, Bloomfield, NJ.