Obituary for Fred Calibuso Dagdag
Fred Calibuso Dagdag, 80 of Waiehu, Maui, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, November 13, 2021 under the care of Hospice Maui.
He was born in Butir, Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, Philippines on September 17, 1941 to the late Martin and Rufina Dagdag.
Fred was the youngest of nine children, but he certainly took on the role of patriarch of the family, serving as a father figure to his many nieces and nephews. He was a hard worker, having started as a knife sharpener at Maui Land and Pineapple Company, then becoming a seed cutter at Hawaii Commercial and Sugar Company (HC&S) and eventually a tractor operator and then a boiler operator at the Pā'ia Mill.
Fueled by a desire to do more in service of his community, he studied and trained to become a fire fighter and joined the Honolulu International Airport Rescue Fire Fighting unit in 1974. Fred loved his job as a fire fighter and proudly retired from the Kahului Airport Fire Station in 1999.
After retirement, he spent most of his time taking care of his grandchildren, growing orchids and succulent plants, and serving the Filipino community on Maui.
Fred was an avid fisherman, who enjoyed shoreline fishing and going out to sea with his buddies. His face would always light up with laughter and a smile whenever he and his friends called out “hanapa’a” after catching a large Mahi or Ulua.
Fred loved living close to the ocean, and in his final days here on earth, the sound of the ocean lulled him to sleep and kept him at peace.
Fred is survived by his loving wife, Judita Dagdag, daughter Rowena (Herman) Dagdag-Andaya and son Frederick (Lori) Dagdag, 5 grandchildren Skyler Dagdag, Seanna Dagdag, Landyn Dagdag, Herman “Trey” Andaya, III, and Lauren Andaya. He is also survived by his sisters Caridad Dagdag Cabanglan and Lolita Dagdag Donia who both live in the Philippines. He was predeceased by brothers Ramon Dagdag, Dionisio Dagdag, Felix Dagdag, Francisca Dagdag, Benjamin Dagdag, and Consuelo Dagdag Mendoza.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, masks and social distancing will be implemented during visitation at Norman’s Mortuary on Friday, December 3 at 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Visitation will continue December 4 at 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. at Norman’s Mortuary, followed by the Eulogy and Funeral Mass at St. Anthony Catholic Church at 11:00 am. Burial to follow at 12:30 pm at Maui Memorial Park.
He was born in Butir, Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, Philippines on September 17, 1941 to the late Martin and Rufina Dagdag.
Fred was the youngest of nine children, but he certainly took on the role of patriarch of the family, serving as a father figure to his many nieces and nephews. He was a hard worker, having started as a knife sharpener at Maui Land and Pineapple Company, then becoming a seed cutter at Hawaii Commercial and Sugar Company (HC&S) and eventually a tractor operator and then a boiler operator at the Pā'ia Mill.
Fueled by a desire to do more in service of his community, he studied and trained to become a fire fighter and joined the Honolulu International Airport Rescue Fire Fighting unit in 1974. Fred loved his job as a fire fighter and proudly retired from the Kahului Airport Fire Station in 1999.
After retirement, he spent most of his time taking care of his grandchildren, growing orchids and succulent plants, and serving the Filipino community on Maui.
Fred was an avid fisherman, who enjoyed shoreline fishing and going out to sea with his buddies. His face would always light up with laughter and a smile whenever he and his friends called out “hanapa’a” after catching a large Mahi or Ulua.
Fred loved living close to the ocean, and in his final days here on earth, the sound of the ocean lulled him to sleep and kept him at peace.
Fred is survived by his loving wife, Judita Dagdag, daughter Rowena (Herman) Dagdag-Andaya and son Frederick (Lori) Dagdag, 5 grandchildren Skyler Dagdag, Seanna Dagdag, Landyn Dagdag, Herman “Trey” Andaya, III, and Lauren Andaya. He is also survived by his sisters Caridad Dagdag Cabanglan and Lolita Dagdag Donia who both live in the Philippines. He was predeceased by brothers Ramon Dagdag, Dionisio Dagdag, Felix Dagdag, Francisca Dagdag, Benjamin Dagdag, and Consuelo Dagdag Mendoza.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, masks and social distancing will be implemented during visitation at Norman’s Mortuary on Friday, December 3 at 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Visitation will continue December 4 at 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. at Norman’s Mortuary, followed by the Eulogy and Funeral Mass at St. Anthony Catholic Church at 11:00 am. Burial to follow at 12:30 pm at Maui Memorial Park.