Dr. Imelda Pangilinan Hamilton

Dr. Imelda Pangilinan Hamilton died in her home in Newark, DE, on Monday, February 8, 2021, surrounded by her three daughters. She was 84 years old. Imelda was born on July 7, 1936, in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. She was the second child of Ricardo and Laureana Pangilinan, and was given the nickname “Neneng,” or “little one.” When she was four years old, World War II began, and her family home was taken over by the general of the Japanese army for the next four years. At the age of 16, she graduated as valedictorian of Holy Infant Academy in Calapan, and went on to Pre-Med at University of Santo Tomas in Manila. She then graduated from medical school in 1960 from Far Eastern University in Manila, Philippines. Imelda relocated to Sieburg, Germany, for her internship and residency, while studying German medicine at the University of Bonn. She joined the United States Air Force as a civilian pediatrician, working for the 86th Tactical Hospital at Ramstein Air Base, where she would meet and fall in love with a medic, Senior Airman Roy Hamilton. They married on February 22 (state) and February 23 (church) 1963, in Ramstein, Germany. They traveled all through Europe until Roy’s tour ended, then moved to the Russellville, AL, and eventually to Newark, DE. Imelda put her medical career on hold to raise her three daughters, Joy, Maureen, and Lauri. As they grew, she only sought opportunities to work as a doctor that allowed her to focus on her family. When her daughters began school, she became a physician at the Student Health Service at the University of Delaware. She later became the physician for the Wilmington School District, an ER doctor at Possum Park Emergency Room, and a member of the surgical team at St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington. In December 1983, Imelda quietly retired to care for Roy, who had survived a major heart attack. After Roy’s recovery, he and Imelda traveled, lived life to the fullest, and had their first grandchild before Roy died in 1993. Imelda became “Lolie,” or “little grandmother,” to five more grandchildren. She notably kept her Christmas decorations up for several years and was ready to celebrate whenever her grandchildren could all be together. She continued to travel the world, making new friends, taking hundreds of pictures, and collecting unique jewelry. Her grandchildren will remember eating mangoes, cantaloupe shakes, making Filipino food in the kitchen while listening to jazz music and watching musicals from the 40s and 50s. She is preceded in death by her parents, Ricardo and Laureana Pangilinan; her brother, Antonio Pangilinan; and her husband, Roy Hamilton. She is survived by her three daughters; Joy Marie Waibel (Brian) of Kennett Square, PA, Maureen Hamilton Scott of Charlottesville, VA; Lauri Ann Blaszkow (James) of Newark; and grandchildren, Kathryn Scott Brust (Ben), Christine Scott Gow (Dan), Cynthia Waibel, Christian Waibel, Emily Blaszkow and James Blaszkow. A private Mass of Christian Burial will be held for her family. Imelda’s family wishes to thank their friends and family for the prayers and support they received in Imelda’s final days. They would also like to thank her doctors and staff at Helen Graham Cancer Center and the staff at Delaware Hospice. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations to Delaware Hospice, 16 Polly Drummond Center, Second Floor, Newark, DE 19711.

Dr. Imelda Pangilinan Hamilton

July 7, 1936 - February 8, 2021