Dr. Marietta "Meta" Hernandez's Obituary
Dr. Marietta “Meta” Hernandez, age 84, passed away in Covington, LA on Saturday, May 11, 2024 after her long battle with metastatic cancer. She was born on May 19, 1939 in Ilagan, Isabella, Philippines to Alfonso Baccay Taggueg and Polycarpia Dalupang Taggueg.
She started High School at Immaculate Conception but graduated from Kabagan High School. Because of the change in schools, she was ineligible to graduate as Valedictorian in spite of her higher grade point average and graduated as class Salutatorian.
She attended the University of Santa Tomas for pre-medicine and medical school. After graduation, she decided to continue her post doctoral medical training in the United States where she did her internship and residency in Pediatrics in Connecticut, New York, Ohio and Michigan. She met her beloved husband Romeo “Romy” in Meriden, Connecticut in 1964. After training, her family moved to Louisiana in 1971 where she served as both Pediatrician and Medical Director at Washington-St. Tammany Regional Medical Center in Bogalusa, LA. She retired in 2002 after 31 years at WSTRMC. She also worked with Joint Commission as WSTRMC transitioned to the LSU Health System.
When she was working at the hospital, the nurses and hospital staff knew when she was coming down the halls by the cadence of her walk. They also loved her exquisite sense of fashion and loved to see what she would be wearing every day to work. More importantly, she loved her patients and cared for their well-being-whether it was just a routine check up or treating an illness. She was proud of the fact that as the Medical Director, she ran a “tight ship” managing the hospital and its finances. WSTRMC had the distinction of being the only Charity Hospital location in the state to not be “in the red” financially. She and Romy were also heavily involved with the formation of the Louisiana (and Gulf Coast) chapter of the Association of Philippine Physicians in America (APPA) and she once served as the Executive Director.
Upon her retirement, she and Romy enjoyed extensive traveling by cruise ships throughout Europe, South America, Russia and Antarctica and were accompanied on their adventures by their close friends. When they weren’t traveling, they split their time between their homes in Las Vegas, NV visiting with friends and family and in Louisiana to spend time with their grandchildren. Meta loved music and was proud that she was once president of the Perry Como fan club in the Philippines. She would call into the local radio station in the middle of the night during a study break to request that a song be played. Music from the Great American Songbook from artists like Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Englebert Humperdinck, Dionne Warwick, The Beatles, The Four Seasons and The Carpenters would fill both her home and car and she had a penchant to sing along a step ahead of the lyrics. She loved all things Christmas, and had an enormous Christmas Village collection that she had a special display built in her home to house her collection. She loved to cook when she had the time, and (in the opinion of her son) made the best adobo on planet Earth. She was at her best when she entertained her friends and family whether hosting parties at her home or at dinners in restaurants. She would regale them with stories so much so that even the grandkids knew many of these stories by heart. She was also very generous and was always willing to help those in need. She was very protective of her husband who had Parkinson’s and did her best to ensure he got the best care despite his failing health. To say she will be missed is a gross understatement. She was a force to be reckoned with in life and all are better for having known her as a physician, friend or relative. Her legacy will continue through the life lessons she taught her children and grandchildren.
Dr. Meta is preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 56 years, Dr. Romeo “Romy” Hernandez. She is survived by her two children: Ron Hernandez (Jennifer) and Lisa Pellegrini (Greg); by her 10 grandchildren: Christina Hernandez, Eric Hernandez, Alexander Hernandez, step-grandson Bruce Henley; Isabelle Pellegrini, Jack Pellegrini, Caroline Pellegrini, Max Pellegrini, Natalie Pellegrini and Gabby Pellegrini. She is also survived by her siblings, Evalyn Tagle, Alfonso “Boy” Taggueg, Alfonso Taggueg, Reginald Taggueg, Wilmer Taggueg, Roy Taggueg, Lorelei Taggueg.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at E. J. Fielding Funeral Home, 2260 W 21st Avenue, Covington Louisiana on Friday, May 24, 2024, at 11:00 AM with visitation on Friday beginning at 9:00 AM. Interment will follow in Pinecrest Memorial Gardens.
We would like to thank the nurses and staff at Avanti Senior Living for the generous and patient care given to our mother. We would also like to especially thank her sitters, Arniel Saul, Anabel Espiritu and Arnel Cangrejo who have become a part of our family and for whom my sister Lisa and I are forever grateful.
The Hernandez family invites you to share thoughts, fondest memories, and condolences online at E. J. Fielding Funeral Home Guest Book at www.ejfieldingfh.com.
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