Ermelinda Gemeno Saithave

Linda Saithave, affectionately known as “Auntie Linda”, was an incredibly generous woman who loved and cared for her family with all her heart and soul throughout her 90 years. 

Linda was born August 27, 1934 in Miagao, outside of Iloilo City. She was the first child of Gregorio Duran and his wife, Narcisa Gimeno Duran. Linda spent her childhood and young adulthood caring for her ensuing brothers and sisters, 8 who survived to adulthood (Violeta, Carmen, Rudolfo, Nelson, Emma, Maria Leda, and Danilo). When she had time, she would also sew beautiful dresses at her cousin’s store, Estrella’s Fashion Shop in Brgy. Palaca. 

In 1967, Linda immigrated to the United States, staying in San Francisco with her sister Carmen and Carmen’s new husband Bernie. She spent her first years in the US babysitting Mark Liboon, Carmen’s son, and working part-time at a convalescent home. She finally found a steady job at the prestigious St. Francis Hotel in downtown San Francisco and stayed with the company for 20+ years. In that time, she met a very handsome Thai man named Charnyuth “Chan” Saithave at a party thrown by her friend, “Auntie Tim”, and they were happily married in 1974 at Epiphany Church. 

During their marriage, they serenely traveled the world; going on cruises to Alaska, the Mexican Riviera, and Germany (mostly in the company with her sister Maria Leda and her husband, Fred) and also to faraway places like Australia and Thailand with her husband’s family. They enjoyed staying home, playing Lotto and tending to their garden full of roses and fruit trees. Occasionally, they would escape to Reno with other family members for some light gambling and a change of scenery. Although they never had children of their own, they truly threw all their love into their numerous nieces and nephews, showering them with small monetary gifts at every holiday and sometimes just because they wanted all of them to know they were beloved. 

Sadly, the love of her life, Chan, passed away at the beginning of the COVID pandemic in April 2020, and she missed him dearly over the last four years. During this time, she found comfort in the care of 24-hour caregivers who rekindled her love for delicious home-cooked Filipino food. Auntie Linda passed away peacefully in her sleep surrounded by family, on Tuesday, November 19th, 2024.

She is deeply missed by all her nieces and nephews: Mark, Grace, Archivir, Beverly, Glen, Randolph, James, Floyd, Sarah, Eileen, Gigi, and many others from Chan’s side of the family. She is also remembered by her extended family and grandchildren: Donna, Ron, Miranda, Jason, Jenna, Jayden, Jernee, Alyssa, Miles, Mason, Noah, Cisa, and Roman. Auntie Linda is survived by her brothers and sister: Dan, Rudolfo, and Maria Leda. We miss you, Auntie Linda, and may your path to heaven be gentle and easy.