A much loved mother, grandmother and physician, Felicitas, known to family as “Esing,” friends as “Citas” or “Dr. T,” and professionally as Dr. Tobias passed away peacefully on May 11, 2019, at LaGrange Memorial hospital after a long, full, life at the age of 92 years.

Felicitas Deogracias Tobias was born on October 14, 1926 in Bani, Pangasinan to Pascual and Pelagia (Deogracias) Tobias. A native of Western Springs for 49 years, Felicitas attended the University of Santo Thomas in the Philippines and graduated with a degree in medicine in 1953. She moved to the United States in 1956 and married in 1962. She practiced medicine and raised her family in Illinois for most of her life. It was not long before obtaining work and settling in Chicago that she began to have a profound impact on so many members of her extended Filipino family by assisting many of them in obtaining residence and work in the United States.

Professionally, she had a bold, and enduring commitment to improving the health of others that never withered with age. She began in the 1970s with her own practice in Bariatrics and much later was a strong advocate of holistic medical practices where she built a large network of friends and associates. She was always the best advertisement for her holistic medicine ideas – always looking younger and acting fitter than her age. She was a lifelong traveler, spending most school breaks in the 1970s exploring the contiguous 48 states with a family of 5 in a Cadillac. Her travels took her to over 30 countries, and was always eager to experience new cultures and the opportunity to meet new people.

She was preceded in death by her husband Joseph (aka Pacholo) Casten Ballesteros in 1994. And is survived by her older sister Diomedes Tobias Ragasa, children Deanna (aka Lisa), Saul (Julie) and Armani, and her three grandchildren Grant, Mark and Luke. She will also be forever remembered by her extended family, dear friends and grateful patients.

A visitation and rosary celebrating Felicitas’ life will be held 5:00-9:00 pm, on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at the Hallowell and James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th St., Countryside, IL 60525. A mass will be celebrated Thursday, May 16 starting at 11:15 am at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, 5005 Wolf Rd., Western Springs, IL 60558, starting from the funeral home with funeral prayers at 10:15 am. An interment ceremony will be held shortly after at Queen of Heaven Mausoleum, 1400 S. Wolf Rd., Hillside, IL 60162.

Memorial donations in memory of Felicitas can be made to the Catholic Relief Services work in the Philippines at www.crs.org or by mail to Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21297-0303.

 

For Service Information: 708-352-6500