Obituary of Nelson S. Ilagan

Nelson S. Ilagan, age 64, of Elkins Park, passed away suddenly on Friday, October 14, 2016 at Abington Hospital. He was surrounded by his loving family and will be deeply missed by all. Born in Taal, Batangas, in the Philippines on August 6, 1952, Nelson came from a large family, the youngest with four older brothers and four older sisters. Nothing brought him greater joy than caring for others, especially his wife of nearly 35 years, Marilyn (née Ramos). The two went to the same school; Marilyn's father Aquilino Ramos was Nelson's teacher and frequently scolded him for goofing off. They were married at the Philippine Embassy in The Hague, Netherlands in 1981 and later held a traditional wedding in the Philippines the following year with family and friends. Nelson dreamed of a prosperous life for his family, and upon moving to Philadelphia he pursued the American dream of working hard, raising children, and owning a home. He loved traveling the world, an experience he got to enjoy for several years as a ship navigator and sea merchant in the 1980s. Nelson was a dedicated lab technician for the American Red Cross for over 30 years, and would proudly tell you that he was never a single minute late to the job. He embodied hard work, and never stopped moving—you could always catch him doing yard work, meticulously tending his plants, keeping a spotless home, or cooking. When he did relax, he loved watching movies, taking photographs, going on dinner dates with his wife and keeping up with friends on Facebook. He was a diehard Eagles fan. Aside from his tireless work ethic, Nelson will always be remembered for his generous spirit and silly sense of humor. He was the life of the party and loved making people laugh, especially children. He is survived by his wife, and two children, Capella (William) and Michaelangelo Ilagan (Alexandra), as well as four sisters, three brothers, dozens of nieces and nephews, and numerous close friends. He was overjoyed to be a grandfather for the first time, to his granddaughter Cora. He is predeceased by his parents, Ramon and Caridad Ilagan; brother Rene; and beloved dog, Cookie. The funeral will be held 10:00 am on Saturday, October 22 at Lownes Family Funeral Home, 659 Germantown Pike, Lafayette Hill, PA. 19444 Calling hours will be Friday, October 21 from 6-8pm and Saturday, October 22 from 9-10AM at Lownes Family Funeral Home. To extend Nelson's lifelong generosity, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, please send donations in his name to The Philadelphia Eagles Charitable Foundation, One NovaCare Way, Philadelphia, Pa., 19145.