Celia Lent

Celia Gonzaga Lent, 55, of Wasilla died at Providence Alaska Medical Center Oct. 24, 2007, of respiratory and coronary failure from infection.

A service will be held 3 p.m. Nov. 11 at St. David’s Episcopal Church, Mile 2.2 Wasilla-Fishhook Road, in Wasilla. The Rev. Paul K. Klitzke will officiate. A service will be held in the Philippines at a later date.

Lent was born Jan. 4, 1952, to Jorge and Cornelia Gonzaga in Bacolod City, Philippines. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Negros Occidental Recoletos in the Philippines, and pursued graduate studies at University of Alaska Anchorage.

She became a resident of Alaska in 1985 and lived in Wasilla. Lent assisted her husband in running Professional Design Practice in Wasilla and also performed some part-time work for Carrs in Wasilla in 2005. She attended St. David’s Episcopal Church and Villamonte Catholic Church in Bacolod City, Philippines.

Her hobbies included gourmet cooking, home decorating, sewing, music, singing, dancing and socializing with numerous friends. She participated in beauty pageants in the Philippines.

According to family, Lent was a devoted and loving wife and mother whose early passing has greatly saddened family and friends. Her loss is particularly felt by her husband and son, Burt Lent and Frank Lent. Lent’s great sense of humor would always brighten the day. She enjoyed gatherings of family and friends and was always welcome because she was such a live wire. She loved singing karaoke with her friends.

She was a devout Christian with great faith in the Lord. She regularly attended services with the family in Alaska and the Philippines. Her love of uplifting religious music was well known and she wouldn’t hesitate to become animated during services. Before coming to the United States she was a member of the Charismatic Movement of the Catholic Church in the Philippines where uplifting music was featured.

Lent is survived by her husband and son; siblings, Freddie Gonzaga and Gilda G. Restauro, both of the Philippines; aunts, Ofelia C. Lent of Minden, Nev., and Monena Coleta of the Philippines; cousins, Liny Lacson of North Hollywood, Calif., and Joselyn Coleta of the Philippines; nieces, Christine Joy Gonzaga, Deini Gonzaga and Sherri Restauro of the Philippines; and nephews, Frelan Gonzaga, Audref Gonzaga, Ivandel Restauro and Jo-Ann Restauro of the Philippines.

She was preceded in death by parents, Jorge and Cornelia Gonzaga, and brothers George Jr. and Efrin Gonzaga.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to St. David’s Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 870995, Wasilla, AK 99687.

Arrangements are with Anchorage Funeral Home and Crematory.