(Eagle News)–The Palace has condoled with the kin of Elizabeth Yu Gokongwei, widow of John Gokongwei Jr., who passed away on Saturday, Nov. 16.
“The Palace is saddened by the passing of Mrs. Elizabeth Gokongwei yesterday, November 16, just one week after the death of her husband, John,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.
Panelo described her as a “gentle, loving, kind, caring and selfless human being.”
“Mrs. Elizabeth, like Mr. John, was known for her philanthropy, being a member of the Board of Trustees of the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation. She was, in the words of only son, Lance, ‘the heart and soul of the Gokongwei family,'” Panelo said.
Panelo said Elizabeth also helped her husband realize his dream as his wife.
He said she “fully supported the conviction of the businessman who dared.”
He said in fact she was the founding member of the Robinsons Department Store and headed its Merchandising Department from 1980 to 1992.
According to Panelo, Lance, president and CEO of JG Summit Holdings, Inc., also said that their mother Elizabeth “was an optimist.”
“She always had a smile on her face, and looked at the brighter side of life. She was the best kind of mother and wife and will be dearly missed,” Lance said.
“Be yourselves. Don’t compare yourselves to others, because someone will always be smarter than you. Someone will always be looking or richer. So just go out there and be yourselves,” Lance said in his book “Lessons from Dad.”
The Gokongwei matriarch passed away a day after the burial of her husband.
She was 85 years old.
