Amor Cosio Villareal, 83, died peacefully at her home in Paradise Valley, Arizona on Monday, March 9, 2020, with her loving husband and family at her side. She was born on August 15, 1936 in Santa Cruz, Laguna, Philippines, to Deogracias and Consuelo (Marzan) Cosio. Amor received her undergraduate and medical degrees from The University of the Philippines, graduating summa cum laude in 1961. Following her graduation, she traveled to the United States and completed her internship at St. Francis Hospital in Jersey City, NJ. During that time, Amor met the love of her life and her husband of 56 years, Rolando Villareal, who was also an intern at St. Francis Hospital. She finished her residency in Pediatrics in 1964 and worked in the Children’s Receiving Ward at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, NY. Amor and Rolando were married in Brooklyn, NY on February 9, 1964. In 1965 they welcomed the birth of their daughter, Aileen Frances (Sulit). Three years later, after moving to Syracuse, NY, their second daughter, Kara Marie, was born.
From 1968 to 1972, Amor worked at the Syracuse Neighborhood Health Center. Seeking warmer winter weather, Amor and her family moved to Phoenix, where she went into private practice until her retirement in 2009. Amor was a dedicated and compassionate physician who was loved by her patients, and she enjoyed the privilege of caring for the children of her patients once they became parents themselves. During her career, she served as Vice Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at John C. Lincoln Hospital. She also volunteered for the Head Start Program, which provides free health screening examinations for at-risk children.
Amor was a founding member of both the Filipino American Association of Maricopa County and the Association of Philippine Practicing Physicians of Arizona. She and Rolando loved to travel and journeyed to six continents. In her free time, Amor enjoyed cooking, reading, gardening, and spending time with her family and friends. She was an intelligent, loving, and strong woman, and she will be dearly missed. Amor is survived by her husband, Rolando; daughters Aileen Sulit (Andrew) and Kara Villareal; grandson Christian Andrew Sulit, and her granddogs, Grace, Bear, and Wolf. She was preceded in death by her parents, Consuelo and Deogracias, and her brother, Amando Cosio.
A brief Rosary service will be held at 4 P.M., followed by visitation from 4:45 P.M. to 7 P.M. on Sunday, March 15, 2020, at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. A Mass celebrating Amor’s life will be held on Monday, March 16, 2020, at 10 A.M. at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 5045 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix. Condolences may be expressed online at www.whitneymurphyfuneralhome.com
Leonor ( Boots ) and Cesar Maderazo and family
Our condolences to the family of our very dear friend, Amor….
Lourdes C Felarca MD
To the family of Amor Cosio Villareal,
Please accept my deep condolence and sincere sympathy for the passing of your beloved mother and dear classmate at the University of the Philippines Medical school.
Alta (Lourdes Capistrano Felarca, MD
Carolyn and Romy Guzman and Family
Our family one and all express our sincere condolences. Dr Amor meant so much to Romy and I (Carolyn) as a friend and the pediatrician to our 4 children. She was very dedicated to her patients. She will be missed. May your many memories of your wife, mother and grandmother stay in your hearts forever.
Stephanie
To Dr. Amor’s family: I never got to know her but given the few stories I heard from her daughter, she must have been an incredible person! She certainly left an amazing legacy along with an amazing family! Heaven is lucky to receive her.
With Deepest Sympathy
Stephanie Bridges
Francesca Thomas
Dearest Aileen,
May the Good Lord welcome your mom with open arms and everlasting love. Know that her spirit lives on, in you and Christian and Kara, and continues to change the world. How blessed we all were to know her! May her memory always be a blessing.
Linda Espinosa
My heartfelt condolences to you Dick, Kim & Andy, Christian, Kara. I can’t believe Amor is gone. She was such an amazing, gracious lady who I greatly admired and considered a friend. Amor Is going to be missed by all who knew & loved her. May she Rest In Peace in the warm embrace of our Lord.
Ron and Mary Muir
Dick and family,
We were saddened and surprised recently to hear of Amor’s passing a year ago. We knew her from St. Theresa Parish and from fitness classes at LA Fitness. What a great smile and gracious manner she had! We miss her and want to extend sincere belated condolences to you all.