Teodora Fernando Obituary (1933 - 2026)

Teodora "Doring" Doquilo Rapanut, known as “Apong”—which means “grandma” in our Filipino/Ilocano heritage—was born on January 12, 1933, in Langaoan, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur, Philippines, to her devoted parents, Angel Rapanut and Isabel Doquilo. Apong Doring married Filomeno Fernando. When she unexpectedly lost her beloved husband at a young age, Apong faced the challenges of raising their daughters, Luvisminda "Minda" and Filomena "Mining", as a single mother. At 55, Apong made the journey to Seattle, WA, to help care for her granddaughters, Chantal and Gidget - the daughters of Minda and the late Elmer Carrancho. Even as she left behind her daughter Filomena, her husband Medito "Abat" and granddaughter Sherry Anne in the Philippines, her heart remained patient and hopeful until their long-awaited reunion in Seattle in 2012. Apong Doring was the heart of our family. She was famous for her delicious “cascaron,” a sweet treat everyone looked forward to at gatherings. She was the trusted babysitter for friends and relatives. Apong’s love only grew as her family did. She was blessed with two beautiful great-granddaughters, Mckenna Lynn and Ashtyn Rose Painter, the daughters of Gidget & Preston, whom she also helped raise. Not everyone has the special blessing of growing up with their great-grandmother, and Mckenna and Ashtyn are blessed to have known and loved her. She found joy in simple pleasures: trips to the casino where she walked fast to her favorite slot machine, "Shrimp and Lobster Mania," and annual summer road trips to Anacortes for a visit to the Shrimp Shack. She never missed a doctor’s visit and took pride in caring for her health, always setting an example for us all. Apong also loved cheering for her favorite NBA teams—the Seattle SuperSonics and Oklahoma City Thunder—and kept close to her roots by watching the Filipino Channel. Her life was a tapestry of love, sacrifice, and joy. We will forever miss her laughter, her stories, and the warmth of her embrace. Apong’s legacy lives on in the hearts of all who knew her, and we are grateful for every moment we shared with her.