Felicidad Mendoza Mailom or also known as "Fely" was born on March 7, 1927, in the town called Pulilan in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. She was an only child of Feliciano and Maria Santiago Mendoza. Later in life, after her mother died, Fely and her father moved to La Loma, Quezon City. After relocating, she worked as a dressmaker in Santa Cruz, Manila. Eventually, she met Marcos Mailom, who happened to be her neighbor and future love interest. Marcos started courting her and he impressed her by giving her coconuts every time he came back from his hometown town of Tanauan, Batangas. Eventually, Marcos and Fely officially became each other's sweethearts and married on January 26, 1948.

Fely and Marcos were blessed with eight wonderful children: Ed, Rose, Teresita, Lyn, Ludy, Boy, Jean, and Cecille. To raise their children, Marcos worked for the Philippine Bureau of Printing Office while Fely worked as a businesswoman. Fely sold clothes, different types of Filipino foods, and even sold produce to make ends meet. Through their hard work, Fely and Marcos's children became an accountant, nurse, another accountant, dentist, chemical engineer, civil engineer, educator, and pharmacy technician. After taking care of her children, Fely also took care of her grandchildren, Ed's two children until she moved to the U.S.

In 1976, Fely's second child, Rose, who was a nurse at that time, immigrated to America. Rose was able to bring Fely and Marcos to the United States in 1984. As an immigrant, Fely worked as a kitchen staff at a convalescent facility in San Diego, California. Through the years and through her compassionate personality, she gained numerous friendships and acquaintances. Unfortunately, Marcos died from a cardiac arrest in April 5, 1990. After Marcos' passing, Fely stopped working in order to help Rose take care of her two children. Fely loved her grandchildren very much and she would always cook for them especially her specialty "Puto and Kutsinta," which are two types of steamed rice cakes. She also loved to cook Pastel, Kare-Kare, Spicy Chicken, and Callos. Fely was an amazing cook, and she had all the recipes instilled in her.

Fely also loved traveling. She often visited her motherland, Philippines, and she was able to visit different countries like Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mexico, Thailand, and the Caribbean. She also loved doing roadtrips and visited different states like New York, Washington State, Nevada, Arizona, and Florida.

Fely very much loved her family and loved being surrounded by all her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren until her last breath. She truly was a God's gift from heaven, and she will always be remembered as a tenacious, courageous, loving, and caring woman — especially as a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.