Julita Amante Abello Lewis went to be with the Lord on July 23, 2025. She was born August 4, 1939, to Menecio and Margarite Abello on the island of Cebu in the Philippines. Soon after her birth the family moved to Tacloban City on the island of Leyte. She vaguely remembered MacArthur landing on Leyte.

In 1961 she met and married her husband, Richard, of 63 years in Olongapo City, Philippines. While Richard served in the Navy they lived in numerous places. First in Olongapo City and San Antonio in the Philippines. In 1968 she came to the United States. She lived with her in-laws in Moses Lake for 6 months while Richard was deployed. Then to Long Beach, CA, Livermore, CA, back to the Philippines and Lathrop, CA. When Richard retired from the navy, they made their final move to Pullman where they remained until her death.

Julita was a very hard worker. She worked in thrift store, as a farm laborer, in a greenhouse and finally as a custodian at WSU retiring in 2002.

One of her proudest moments was obtaining her U.S. citizenship in 1994. She was also proud when Richard retired from WSU in 2008, they traveled to all the lower 48 states. Since she had previously been to Alaska and Hawaii, she could say she had visited all 50 states.

Julita loved cards. She played 5 different forms of solitaire daily. She also loved rummy. She and her daughter play several times a week after dinner. Whenever family members showed up, especially her grandson Eric, it wasn't long before the rummy game was on. She was also a fan of cougar sports. Having season tickets to football, basketball and volleyball for many years. She gave up her football tickets in 2020 when COVID hit. However, she continued attending nearly all basketball games through 2023. Fortunately, by that time all games were televised, and she didn't miss any. She also didn't miss any Seahawks games.

Julita was a very strong-willed person. She was raised in extreme poverty, had no real education but always managed to do what she needed to survive. Around the age of 10 she was sent to Manila to live with relatives. She lost track of her parents, never again seeing her father. In 1977 when Richard was stationed in the Philippines she traveled to Leyte, found and was reunited with her mother and two brothers.

She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings. She is survived by her husband, her daughter Victoria, her son Richard, daughter in-law Lenna, her grandchildren Amanda (Ceasar), Evan and Eric, and her great grandchildren Emma Kate, Benjamin and Vivian.

A viewing will be held from noon to 5 pm on Tuesday, July 29th at Corbeill Funeral Home, Pullman, WA.  The Funeral Mass will be held at 11:30 AM on Wednesday, July 30, 2025 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 440 NE Ash St., Pullman.  Julita will be laid to rest at the Pullman City Cemetery.