Obituary of Amor I. McGuinness

Amor Ilao McGuinness Age 76, Boonton Township, New Jersey Amor Ilao McGuinness died peacefully at her home on August 27, 2011, surrounded by her loving husband, children and close friends. She survived breast and then bone cancer for over 17 years. She was born in born Luisiana, Laguna Province, Philippines, where she was raised during World War II. After graduating University of the Philippines Nursing School and working briefly in the Philippines, Amor attended Johns Hopkins Graduate School of Nursing and worked at St. Peter's Hospital, Womens' Hospitals, both in NYC, and St. Mary's Hospital in Orange, NJ. After her marriage to Tom McGuinness they lived in Orange, Caldwell and for the past 45 years, Boonton Township. She owned and operated two china and gift stores in Boonton, "The Old Firehouse" and "The Rainbow Shop," during the 1970s and 1980s. She also worked as a realtor for Irv White, Weichert Realtors and Hubler Realty for thirty years. Together with her husband, Amor owned and managed South Terrace Manor, a residential health care facility in Boonton that cared for chronically ill and elderly women, for 20 years.Besides her four grandchildren, Amor's other passion was her music. She was a world class soprano who graced the stages at numerous Philippine/American events throughout the United States, Canada, Jordan, Havana and Manila. She started singing publicly at age six and is known first and foremost for her renditions of classical Philippine kundimans or love songs and her popular bird song medleys. She studied voice with several professional coaches over the years, attended Julliard and performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the New Jersey PAC. Her credits include roles in community productions of South Pacific, The King I and the Off-Broadway, Song of Joseph. Amor also sang for several dignitaries including Philippine Presidents Aquino and Arroyo, and President George Bush, Sr. Amor was dedicated to promoting and celebrating the Filipino cultural traditions and founded the Philippine Dance Troup and the University of the Philippines Alumni & Friends Rondalla, the latter a Filipino string ensemble that has performed in Havana, Jordan, Israel, Toronto, Portugal and the U.S. Capitol as well as many Philippine events. She and her husband celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary this past June enjoyed by family and friends. Through all her successes in music and business in the United States, Amor never forgot the disadvantaged people of the Philippines and worked tirelessly to raise money for poor Filipino children, Filipino hospitals in need, Filipino nurses and the Filipino elderly. She has received many honors for her artistic and her humanitarian efforts, including two Philippine Presidential Awards from Presidents Cory Aquino and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Amor is survived by her loving husband Thomas, daughter Mary Louise and husband Jack Beierle (Sparta), daughter Amor Taylor (Sacramento CA), and her son Richard and wife Katherine (Columbia), and her beloved grandchildren Santino, Maddigan, Quincey and Brett. She is also survived by her brothers Romeo Ilao (Phillipsburg, NJ), Rito Ilao and sister Carmen Miley (both from Queens). She is predeceased by her mother Luisa, her father Baldomero, her brother Benjamin, her sister Noemi, and her son-in-law Scott Taylor. Arrangements are by the Mackey Funeral Home, 107 Essex Ave, Boonton, New Jersey, (mackeyfh.com). Relatives and friends are invited to attend the viewing on August 31, Wednesday from 2:00 - 4:00 pm and 6:00 - 9:00 pm, and on Thursday morning, September 1 from 9:30-10:30 am. A funeral mass will be celebrated on September 1, Thursday, at 11:00 am at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 10 North Pocono Road, Mountain Lakes. A memorial service for Amor will be held at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship at a later time. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the University of the Philippines Alumni & Friends Rondalla (UPA&FR), a Filipino string ensemble based in New Jersey that performs regularly in cultural heritage festivals and government social activities. It is a non-profit 501-C 3 organization. Donations to UPA&FR should be mailed c/o Diane Valencia, 3 Rachel Terrace, Piscataway, NJ 08854. The family will sit Shiva Friday - Sunday, Sept. 2-4, from 4:00 - 7:30 pm. All are welcome to visit at the McGuinness residence during this time.