Marquita Babasa Tabag passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home in Carson, California on January 3, 2026. She could not have planned it better, having celebrated the evening before, surrounded by family members attending her daughter's birthday. The entire family is so grateful for the precious time and opportunity to hug and kiss their mother, grandmother and great grandmother one last time before her passing.

Marquita spent her early years in Batangas City, Philippines as the youngest of six children of Simeon Babasa and Maria Montalbo Babasa. After immigrating to the United States in 1950, she caught the eye of Isabelo Actuca Tabag and married a year later in Compton, California. Together they raised two children, Sheila Tabag Napala and Mario Tabag, and in the mid-70's they welcomed their spouses Terri Montez and Phil Napala. She loved and cherished her children and was a loving and devoted grandmother to Craig, Lauren, Carin, Trisha and Evan, as well as a gentle and affectionate great grandmother to Wyatt, Marley, Zoe, Finley and Kainoa.

Up until her bout with Alzheimer's Disease, Marquita maintained her compassion, thoughtfulness and appreciation of love of family and friends and expressed gratitude for her long life, full of wonderful and varied experiences. She made it a point to be as engaged as possible with her grandchildren and held her great grandchildren as much as possible. From child sitting, sewing, crocheting and cooking for them, as well as attending birthday parties, sporting events, camping trips and a family vacation in Kauai, she was always involved.

During every stage of her life, she cherished all the friendships along the way. Marquita delighted in fun and a love of adventure which involved traveling to different countries and road trips throughout the United States with many of her friends. She was the friend that provided tasty meals to the incapacitated, last-minute babysitting, and a shoulder to cry upon. Although all of her good friends have passed, I'm sure she would greatly appreciate the attendance of their children at her celebration of life in their honor as well.