Pamfila Jampas Bairan Delfin (affectionately known as Nanay, meaning mother) entered eternal life on Saturday, January 2nd, 2016, the same day of the year that her only sister also passed. Her spirit is carried on by her husband of 51 years, Luis Gorre Delfin; six children and in-laws: Glory (Gomer), Helen (John), Luis Jr. (Cora), Mirasol (Egene), Roel (Chona), and Lehi (Jamie); 13 grandchildren; extended family relations and friends from every walk of life.
We were blessed to learn many valuable lessons from Nanay in her near 89 years. Among them: Stay young and don't entertain your problems. Faith without works is dead. Don't throw away anything as it can be useful, even if the expiration date is long past. Take care of your things. Learn to save for a rainy day. Never cheat the Lord. Be humble and learn to be grateful. When looking for something, use your eyes not your mouth. The temple is the best medicine.
When Nanay received a terminal diagnosis of MDS giving her 3-6 months to live, she decided to be joyful about having had a full life rather than mournful about having to die. As a surprise to all the doctors involved in her care, she outlived her prognosis by over a year and a half. She will always be known as "small but terrible," a tiny woman with a very strong will. She would smile at you from her hospital bed and sing, "I can still dance!" She had all things prepared. Even before her body began to shut down from infections and complications due to her MDS, she knew it was her time to reunite with loved ones gone before. She was at peace with death because she viewed it as just another step in her eternal journey.
Nanay is a woman known for her devotion ‚ devotion to her family and to her God. Her faith and commitment to both have had a lasting impact on all who have known her. She had a long life filled with hard work and sacrifice, but also packed with love, gratitude, and commitment. She was a wife, a mother, a businesswoman, a president of every church auxiliary, a temple missionary, a caring friend, a grandmother, and a daughter of God.
Nanay was born in 1927 in the small provincial town of Agpangi, Leyte Philippines to Pastor Bairan and Pilar Sabulaan Jampas. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, and one sister. Her teenage years were interrupted by the invasion and occupation of the Philippines during WWII, which started just 10 hours after the Pearl Harbor attack. Nanay would tell the most compelling stories of her escape to the jungled mountains with her auntie who gave birth to triplets while in hiding. She dressed in rags not wanting to attract attention while soldiers ravished through their village and threw their rice into the ocean. The occupation eventually led to the sickness and premature death of her very own mother. We know how happy she is for this reunion after so many years.
As a single adult, Nanay worked in a department store while maintaining a house in Manila, employing live-in helpers and supporting her sister through school. Later, she owned her own business as a supplier of goods to stores, where she served as the liaison between the manufacturers and the sellers.
At the age of 37, she met Luis Delfin, a widower with 2 daughters who had come to Manila to meet her through the recommendation of his former mother-in-law. Knowing that she had many suitors but was strict and unwilling to marry them, he knew his chances with her were slim, but he was persistent. Once, he waited all day at her house until she finally came home from work. Soon after, they were married and a much different life began for Nanay. She loved her new children, Glory and Helen. She and Luis eventually added 4 more children to the family: Luis Jr. "Johny", Mirasol, Roel, and Lehi.
She was extremely driven and worked in many areas throughout her life, including buying and selling real estate, running a piggery (pig breeding), a poultry farm, and a convenience store, lending money, growing and selling orchids (her favorite flower). Many of her businesses were run from her own house while also raising children.
In 1973, they were introduced to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints by missionaries knocking at their door. They took lessons from the elders for a few months and then were baptized. From that time on, the Delfin family was committed to their church. Pam and Luis never missed their Sunday meetings or family home evenings and served in many leadership positions. They were some of the earliest members in the Philippines and were pioneers in spreading the gospel in their area. Many missionaries made the Delfin house a frequent stop knowing that Nanay would have a warm meal and an investigator or two ready for them. They were passionate about temple worship and spent many hours, often daily, serving in the Manila and the Salt Lake Temples. Nanay was fond of saying that the temple was the only real medicine she needed.
In 1990, Luis came to the United States. He worked in Idaho and Los Angeles until Nanay and Lehi joined him 8 years later. Los Angeles proved to be too wild for her, so the family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. Well into her 70s, Nanay worked fulltime at Pioneer Valley Hospital and ABC daycare. Later, she loved helping at a senior and child daycare for 4 hours a day as part of a senior work program. They lived in a downtown high rise for senior citizens and loved their ward and friends there.
Nanay was generous and kind. A person could not visit her home without leaving on a full stomach and lucky for them, she was known for her excellent cooking. In particular, her spaghetti and egg rolls were second to none. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, and gardening. Potted plants, garden boxes, crocheted doilies, homemade couch covers and curtains filled every square inch of her apartment and terrace.
She was a lover of life and always wanted to try new things. We remember fondly how she wanted to try snow skiing. At the age of 84, she hiked up to Delicate Arch at Arches National Park.
Most of all, Nanay loved her family. Her eyes light up around her grandchildren. Although many of them were far away, she didn't allow distance to keep her from providing wisdom and love. She was a person who sacrificed everything for her family. Her great wish was to see all her children reunited together in America. She worked well into her 80s, saving money for that future. Though this wish was not realized in her mortality, we are comforted knowing she will be a part of that reunion again someday.
In the summer of 2014, after her diagnosis, Pamfila and Luis moved in with Lehi, Jamie, Beyah, and Ina. Nanay made new friends in her neighborhood and ward and had a positive effect on all who knew her, from children to teenagers to adults.
Pamfila Jampas Bairan Delfin stated many times that she was ready to go and meet her Heavenly Father. She did so on January 2nd at 11:08pm in the company of her husband, her son Lehi, and her daughter Mirasol. She endured to the end with strength, humor, and love. Our dear Nanay, you will be sorely missed and your legacy of faith will live on in our hearts.
A viewing will be held at Larkin Mortuary on Friday, January 8th, 6-8pm 260 E. South Temple SLC,UT 84111
Funeral services will follow a short viewing on Saturday, January 9th, 10-12pm at the LDS Church Bldg. 3785 S. 6761 W. West Valley City, UT 84128
Interment (following the funeral service) at Larkin Sunset Lawn Cemetery 1300 S. 2305 E., SLC, UT 84108
