Maria Lourdes Ramos Calayag

Maria Lourdes Ramos Calayag (47), born February 16, 1979, passed away into Eternal Life on March 5, 2026. Maria (Malou) was born in the Philippines and immigrated to the United States when she was 11 years old. While born totally blind, she determined to live her life each day without letting her disability stop or limit her. This was evident early on when she attended Northern Virginia Community College where she studied Event Planning and Tourism. Following her degree, she became a member of the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) and traveled to Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Canada as well as various locations in the United States to familiarize herself with accommodations and places of interest for travelers. Eventually, Maria utilized her degree working at the Doubletree Hotel in Crystal City, VA where she was employed for eight years and was known to pass out extra chocolate chip cookies and breakfast coupons to brighten her customers’ day. Maria was inquisitive and thoughtful. She loved to read and sing and was always willing to try something new whether it be painting, theater, boating or just joining friends at a festival or winery. She enjoyed arts and crafts, loved organizing parties, and was an excellent sous chef in the kitchen. Most of all, Maria loved the Lord and spent her 30’s and 40’s learning, studying, and growing in her faith and spirituality. She completed a two-year curriculum in Spiritual Direction in 2017; participated with friends in Home Bible Study; and faith-based book clubs, one of which she organized. She was an active member of the Arlington Diocese Cursillo Movement from which she made faith-based friends throughout the diocese and served on multiple retreat teams spreading her light and joy along the way. She was a frequent Adorer of our Lord at St. Raymond of Penafort Catholic Church in Springfield, VA as well as a devoted auxiliary member of the Legion of Mary, and Parish Book Club participant. When asked about her inability to see, Maria would respond: “I see with my heart” and all who met her knew this was true. Maria is the beloved daughter of and is survived by Ernesto Esguerra and Emily Calayag. She is the cherished sister to Mary Ann Calayag [Jeremiah Quiwa], Mabel Calayag-Maramba [Erik Maramba], Francis Calayag, and Jose Salvador Calayag. She was a proud aunt to Johanna Aeryn, Janna Faith and Jacob Ashton and she was a thoughtful niece and loyal friend to many. She will be dearly missed. The Calayag family thank all of you for your prayers, support and friendship during Maria's brief illness, and we thank God for the divine gift of our beautiful Maria. Her words were kind, generous, and encouraging to all she met and her smile lit up a room. In lieu of flowers, tribute donations may be made in Maria Lourdes’s memory to Seedlings Braille Books for Children (https://www.seedlings.org) or Seedlings, Braille Books for Children, P.O. Box 51924, Livonia, MI 48151-5924.

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Maria Lourdes Ramos Calayag

February 16, 1979 - March 5, 2026