Carmelita E. Makayan

Carmelita Makayan, beloved wife, mother and grandmother — who opened her home and her heart to those she cared for — passed away on April 11, 2025. “Merly” as she was known to close friends and family, felt God’s calling peacefully in her sleep. She was 84.

Born January 28, 1941 to Felimon and Barbara Esperanza, Merly grew up in Luisiana, Laguna, Philippines. In her early 20s she began dating her neighbor, Aquino Makayan, or “Quin”, who enjoyed her love of dancing. Merly and Quin mastered the tango and would become lifelong dance partners. They were married in October 1964 and had three children together.

Merle emigrated with her oldest son to the United States in 1972, settling in Queens, New York, with her husband. Soon her daughter, Christine, arrived from the Philippines and joined the family. By then, they had their youngest son, Ronald. They moved to Holbrook and lived there for 17 years as she continued to commute to Queens as a Radiology Clerk at LaGuardia Hospital in Forest Hills, where she worked until her retirement.

Merly was family oriented and cherished them very much. There was nothing more important to her than the happiness and security of her family. She is survived by her children, Philipp (Sheri), Christine Burgess (John), Ronald (Antoinette) and grandchildren, Caitlin Giusti (Kyle), Catherine Goodwin (Dalton), Daniel, Emma, Nathan and her great granddaughter Faukes-Brinley.

Merly was preceded in death by her husband Quin, as well as her brother Felimon Jr. and sisters Anita Lorbis and Naida Mariano.