Aida Borja Chanco

Aida Borja Chanco, 98, of Fremont, California passed away peacefully in her sleep on August 20, 2024. She was born to Mercedes and Francisco Borja, and raised in Urdaneta, Pangasinan, Philippines. She attended University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas, where she received her Bachelor of Music degree in piano. During school she met the love of her life, Ysmael Chanco, and they began playing violin and piano duos together. Married for over 71 years, they raised two children, Rebecca and Aileen.

In 1969, Aida immigrated with her family to the United States, and after short stays in San Diego and Moorpark, they settled in Fremont. She spent over 50 years teaching piano to multiple generations of students, and she was a longtime member of the Music Teachers Association of California-Southern Alameda County Branch (MTAC-SACB) where she enjoyed the camaraderie of her fellow teachers. In addition, she played church services which included weddings and funerals in Fremont, helped plan music for Sunday services at St. Leonard’s Catholic Church, which later became Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and accompanied the choir.

Her love of bringing music to this world was ever-present. She taught her daughters piano until preserving the peace at home had to take precedence. She enjoyed preparing and presenting her many students in recitals and competitions. If there ever was a piano situated in any room, from a local coffee shop to a cruise ship, she would sit down and start playing. She was ecstatic if people joined in to sing with her and she loved to perform in front of audiences. She often brought groups of young pianists to nursing homes and senior centers in Fremont to entertain the residents, many of whom were younger than her in age.

One thing Aida loved to host alongside her husband were musical gatherings with friends and family. The shared music-making and laughter were the objective but the food was all-important as well. Her love for those around her was most frequently expressed through her legendary cooking and generosity so that nobody who entered her home ever left hungry. Holidays always involved a constant stream of visitors, and seemingly bottomless supply of dishes. And even if you were just ‘dropping by’ she felt compelled to feed you.

Aida was deeply religious. She made a pilgrimage with her husband to Medjugore, Croatia and was overjoyed at the experience. She often prayed and felt great compassion for those who were less fortunate than her often carrying a special envelope of cash so she had something to give those who were in need.

She is survived by her loving husband, Ysmael; daughters Rebecca and Aileen; grandchildren John, Katrina and Robbie; sons-in-law Chris Foster and Bill Everett; and sisters Eladia Inocencio and Perla Manzano. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Jesus and Francisco Borja Jr. and sisters Minda Borja and Betty Nora. A viewing service will be held in Fremont on Wednesday September 11, 5:00-7:00 PM, at Berge-Pappas-Smith, Chapel of the Angels. And her Celebration of Life Service will take place on Monday September 16, 10:00 AM, at Holy Spirit Church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to Saint Vincent De Paul of Alameda: https://www.svdp-alameda.org/