Rowena Llover Brucal-Landis

Rowena went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on March 11, 2023. Rowena was born in Quezon City in Metro Manila, Republic of the Philippines in 1972 and attended primary and secondary schools there. She received a full scholarship to attend the University of the Philippines (UP), where she majored in Psychology and graduated with honors in 1994. While attending UP, she was active in the Ecological Society, Mountaineering Club, and the Christ Youth in Action (CYA). She had a perfect attendance record in every school she attended and won many academic awards in her academic career. Upon graduation from college, she worked at Pfizer Corporation where she was a Sales Representative. She met many life-long friends there but, after 10 years at Pfizer, she felt a calling to come to the United States and continue her education. While Rowena was attending Prince George’s Community College in Maryland, she met her husband Shawn, who was stationed there in the Army. They fell in love and continued their relationship when Shawn was relocated to Fort Riley, Kansas. They married in 2007 and upon Shawn’s discharge, they moved to Michigan for a couple years and finally settled down in Virginia Beach, Virginia. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Tidewater Community College’s Respiratory Therapy Program in 1994, she worked for two Sentara Hospitals for several years in Virginia Beach and made many more life-long friends. She found out she had stage 4 cancer in 2020 at nearly the same time of the Covid outbreak. She fearlessly continued to work during her illness, and she saved the lives untold numbers of people. Rowena loved scuba diving, animals, and traveling, but most of all she loved spending her time with her family and friends. She never had an enemy and she had a very generous heart.

In the Philippines, Rowena is survived by her loving parents Julio and Rosemarie Brucal; sister, Remelie; brother, Rodel (wife Joy), nephew Jon Del; an uncle; several aunts and cousins. In the United States, Rowena is survived by her husband, Shawn Landis; Shawn’s brother and sisters and several nieces and nephews; step-daughters, Mary Landis and Theresa Landis; grandchildren, Reyauna, Ryan, Rayla and Mariyah all of whom she loved dearly, along with her loyal dog, Vince, and cat, Shadow. She is preceded in death by her grandparents, and her beloved pets, Barney, Princess and Indy.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions may be made to the Women’s Gynecological Cancer Research Fund at VCU Massey Cancer Center: Box 843042, Richmond, Virginia 23286. Checks should be made payable to VCU Massey Cancer Center. Alternatively, donations may be made to Symbiotic Animal Rescue: Website: www.symbioticinc.org Venmo: @SymbioticInc CashApp: $SymbioticSuffolk PayPal: [email protected]

There will be a celebration of life held in Virginia Beach on April 1st and details will be announced on the “Rowena’s Journey” Facebook Group Page soon. A Celebration of Life will also be held in the Philippines one year from her passing.