Annette “Nettie” J. Manibog, 88, of Huntley, IL passed on to the next life on September 19, 2026 after a sudden battle with an aggressive lymphoma.
She, along with her brother, two sisters and two nieces, worked hard to instill the importance of family by doing their utmost to gather regularly while striving to make a new life in the United States and Canada. She was devoted to making sure her sons were provided every opportunity to succeed, even if it meant taking on a second (or third) shift, or working as a school nurse to make it all come together.
Nettie was born on September 25, 1937 in Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte, on the island of Mindanao, Philippines. At an early age, she was an athletic standout, with administrators from a variety of schools and locales hounding her parents to have Nettie compete on their volleyball and softball teams, requiring overnight travel across the region. Though her parents encouraged this athletic ability, they demanded that it would never come at the expense of her education. Nettie applied the same tenacity in the classroom throughout high school, college and nursing school, just as she did standing atop the pitcher’s mound. This is the “Junasa” way, a reflection of her parents, and impressed upon all of her siblings.
After graduating top of her class in nursing school in the Philippines, she ventured onto uncharted waters by accepting a sponsorship to work at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago. During stints at Cuneo and Illinois Masonic hospitals, she met her husband-to-be Bienvenido “Ben” in Chicago. Ben would drive back and forth to Chicago from Newport News and Norfolk, VA to make the most of his shore leave, serving in the United States Navy as a crewman and plank owner on the USS Enterprise (CVN-65). They were married in 1962 and worked on their careers in the Chicagoland area; she as a Registered Nurse, and he as a Civil Engineer.
Finally leaving the big city, they settled into a hamlet of the northwest suburbs called Schaumburg, where their careers, as well as their family, blossomed. While her four children grew up going to St. Hubert’s School, Conant High School and onto college, Nettie worked her way up the ranks as a surgical RN, eventually becoming part of the inaugural open heart team at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, a place she called home for more than 25 years. NWCH was a very important and fulfilling part of her working life, making so many friends and relationships that have lasted through thick and thin.
As retirement neared, Nettie set her sights on the family’s next adventure, another farming hamlet called Huntley and Del Webb-Sun City. Nettie and Ben maximized their retirement potential, being very active in a number of Charter Clubs, groups and activities; they both participated in Ballroom and Line Dancing, Bocce, Bowling, Mah-jongg, Bags, Clayground (Sculpture), Filipino-American Group, RV Travelers and playing her beloved Lowrey organ. Faith played an important part of their lives as well, being longtime members of St. Mary’s Church and serving within the Filipino-American Ministry (FAM).
Nettie was preceded in death by her husband, Bienvenido “Ben” T. Manibog, her son, Richard A. Manibog, her parents, Gaudencio and Valeriana (Dumandan) Junasa, her in-laws Clemente and Loreto (Tapia) Manibog; her five brothers, Januario (Lucresia) Junasa, Francisco “Inco” (Adoree) Junasa, Rev. Bienvenido “Ben” (Regina) Junasa, Agapito (Nanie) Junasa, and Lucrecio “Loloc” (Genera) Junasa; her four sisters, Paulina (Isabelo) Bendicion, Ignacia (Severo) Garde, Priscilla Lilly” (Pacifico “Joon” Jr.) Camarin, and Dr. Margaretta “Margie” (Lawrence) Weiss; dear niece Loretta Bendicion, dear nephew Dean Junasa, and dear friends Francisco and Gloria (Banzuelo) Simpao.
Nettie is survived by her sons, Ben A. Manibog, Michael A. Manibog, and Eric A. (Tricia) Manibog, her grandsons, Ben A. (Laura) Manibog, Jr., Derek M. Manibog, Matthew J. Manibog, Zachary A. Manibog, Brayden J. Manibog, and Mason R. Manibog, her great grandchildren Ellie and Liam, and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Regina Junasa, brother-in-law Lawrence “Larry” Weiss, and close niece Ruth Bendicion and Dorothy Llosa, and Reah Garde.
In lieu of flowers, to honor the memory of Nettie, the family requests that donations be made to one of the following charitable organizations that she felt was representative of the spirit of charity and helping those who encounter day-to-day struggles: Mercy Ships and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Visitation will be held on Friday, October 2, 2026 from 5 - 8 p.m. at DeFiore Funeral Home, 10763 Dundee Rd., Huntley. A second visitation will be held at 9:00 a.m. on October 3 2026, at St. Mary’s Church in Huntley, Illinois, followed by a funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m.
For further information, please contact the funeral home at 847-515-8772, or online condolences may be directed to www.defiorefuneral.com.
Please leave a video condolence by entering your name and click the "Record" button below. You can always preview your video prior to submitting it. Please note that you may receive a prompt to grant DefioreFuneral access to your camera. This is only temporary and will be solely for the duration of recording your condolence message.
I’m so sorry to hear of Nettie‘s passing. She was such a nice lady and loved by all. She enjoyed going on our adventures with the RV travelers club. She is now on her final adventure! She will be missed!!!!