Cleotilde Medina Sayson

Cleotilde Medina Sayson, better known to her children, Dayton friends, and church family as "Mommy" or "Mommy Cleo" and to her childhood friends and associates as "Tinding," of Fairborn Ohio, passed away on August 18, 2022 at the age of 90. She was born on June 3, 1932 in the city of Bongabon, Nueva Ecija, Philippines.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Conrado Salem Sayson; father, Leon Pineda Medina; mother, the former Tomasa Cabuhat de Lara; brothers, Carmelito, Ricardo, Manuel, and Rogelio; and sister, Corazon.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children: son Armin and his wife Marian Sayson; daughter Sandra and her husband John Fraser, and daughter Ophelia Sayson. She also has 6 stepchildren: Norma, Sonny, Virginia, Lourdes, Anita, and Ray. She has 5 grandchildren: Armin Conrad, Christopher Allen, Crystalle Nicole, Steven Earl, and Michael Ian. She also has 9 great grandchildren: Sofia Maria, Amelia Irene, David Christopher, Conrad Steven, Finn Isaac, Daniel Salem, Benjamin Asher, Dean Alexander, and Eliza Quinn, and one on the way. Her remaining brother, Edgardo, and 4 sisters, Illuminada, Estrellita, Josefina, and Marilyn also lovingly remember her generosity and care as their eldest.

In her prime, she was head of Early Childhood Development for Philippine President Magsaysay's Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement program, from which The U.S. Peace Corps had modelled itself. PRRM's mission was to empower communities to develop sustainable solutions in the management of local environments through self-government by influencing public policy. At that time, Mommy assisted in the establishment of Tilapia farming, which later spread internationally.

Later, her compassionate nature led to her actively volunteering with the Red Cross at her husband's various U.S. Army duty stations. She also helped build up the Christian Family Movement Unit III in Barrio Kapitolyo, while at the same time becoming recognized for her honesty and business acumen in the garments industry as General Manager and owner of Sayson Associates Garments Corporation (SASSCOR). One of the company's earliest clients was German company Zapf Creations producing doll garments. At one point she was selected to represent the Philippines at an ASEAN trade conference in Singapore.

In her latter retirement years, she supported her daughter, providing continuity of care for Sandy's daughter, Crystalle, throughout Sandy's medical training. She later supported her son with the care of his 4 young sons as Armin's former wife returned to the workforce.

She was an active member of the First Fil-Am Church of Greater Dayton and faithful servant of God. She spent much of her free time in her retirement contributing her skills to the Sayaw FilipinOH, the cultural dance group managed by her son, sewing most of their costumes. She was an avid gardener, tending her orchids and vegetable garden. She addressed her voluminous mail, read, shopped, and shared stories about her family to anyone willing to listen… and people loved to listen!

She was well-loved by her family and friends and she will be dearly missed by everyone she touched and that knew her.

Visitation and Celebration of Life will be at Newcomer Beavercreek Chapel, 3380 Dayton-Xenia Road, Beavercreek, Ohio. Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, August 25, 2022, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm and the Celebration Of Life service follows at 3:00 pm.

Cleotilde's services will be livestreamed at the scheduled service time. Click Here to view the service.

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