Alicia Adapon Villafranca

Alicia Adapon Villafranca passed away peacefully on June 6, 2025, at the age of 81. She is survived by her daughter, Maria Isabel A Villafranca; Maria’s husband, Miles Morton; and their young children, Marcelino and Nico. She is also survived by her son, Raul Manuel V Villafranca, and Raul’s daughter, Elisa. 

Alice was a mother to her own children as well as countless other friends and relatives who affectionately called her their “second mom.” She was a beauty queen, an office manager, and most importantly to her, a caregiver—devoted to caring for her beloved husband of 45 years, Manny, before his passing in 2023. As a result of a sudden and rapid progression of her illness, she spent 40 days combined in the hospital and nursing facility before her death, and had near-daily visits from loved ones, many of whom traveled a great distance just to sit with her for a few hours.

Alice was born in San Juan, Batangas in the Philippines in 1944, the second youngest of eleven children of the late Pedro and Severina Adapon. She graduated with a BS in Biology from College of the Holy Spirit in Manila and owned and managed a fabric store before emigrating to New York City in the 1970s with her sisters, Anita and Apolonia. Though she never intended to stay in the US, she fairly quickly made a life here, working as an Executive Administrator at Bangkok Bank and becoming part of a vibrant network of Filipino American immigrants. She met her husband in Manhattan, and after a six-month courtship, they married and lived in Lima, Ohio, and Roosevelt Island, before settling in Westfield, NJ to establish Manny’s psychiatric practice. As the office manager, she was known for her warm and welcoming presence, and patients consistently arrived early just to talk to her. 

As an immigrant and child from a large family, she deeply understood the power of home, community, and belonging. For these reasons and more, she was a frequent host, and opened her doors for every holiday, family milestone, or simply to bring people together—offering food, laughter, and karaoke that stretched late into the night. She stocked her basement with gifts for people of all ages, just in case someone unexpected dropped by. She was a self-taught and extraordinary cook, and loved sharing Filipino food with everyone. If she knew your favorite food, she would make sure it was there every time you came. She made the best leche flan in the world. 

She was endlessly optimistic—regal, yet unpretentious, and fiercely proud of those she loved. She believed in people’s ability to meet their potential, and wanted to support their progress in any way possible. She loved to dance, to travel, and to hunt down the freshest mangos and persimmons to share with friends and family. She was often the most beautiful person in the room. She loved deeply and was deeply loved in return; and as a mother—always mothering—to be in her presence was to be surrounded by warmth, safety, and what can only be called home. 

Visitation will be held on Friday, June 13, 4-8 pm at Higgins and Bonner Echo Lake Funeral Home, 582 Springfield Ave., Westfield. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, June 14, 10:00 am at Holy Trinity RC Church at 506 Westfield Ave, Westfield, NJ. Entombment will follow at Saint Gertrude Cemetery & Mausoleum, 53 Inman Avenue, Colonia, NJ. 

In lieu of flowers, Alice’s family has established the Manuel and Alicia Villafranca Memorial Fund at UPMASA to provide healthcare assistance and medical education in the Philippines. Please consider donating online, sending a check to UPMASA, 2304 Kossuth Street, Lafayette, IN 47904, or donating via Zelle to nationaltreasury@upmasanational.com with “Manuel and Alicia Villafranca Memorial Fund” in the memo line.

For those who wish to live stream the funeral mass, please use the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c57f8LrGeTo