Connie Mariano

Connie Mariano

Our beloved mother passed away on October 11, 2025, just two weeks shy of her 88th birthday.

The youngest of Mar and Jacinta Alejandro’s five children, she learned early the value of perseverance. At 21, she married Carlos Mariano, went on to complete her college education, became a CPA, and built a fulfilling career—first as an accountant, and later as an auditor for the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and Swissair. While working, she also managed to earn her Master’s degree. Remarkably, she balanced all of these professional achievements while being a devoted mother to her five children: Jingy (predeceased, she sadly passed away in 2015), Gino, Giselle, Jill, and Jen.

More than anything, our mom was a woman of the mind and heart. An avid reader, she believed learning was a lifelong gift, and she passed this belief on to her kids. She encouraged us to study, to explore, to grow and live fully. In doing so, she gave us her greatest legacy—shaping not only who we are today, but the people we continuously strive to become.

From Her Children

Tributes to Mommy

Connie and Giselle in New York City at Christmas Giselle and Roberto's wedding portrait Giselle's wedding reception
Written by

Giselle

Mommy nurtured my love of reading. She bought me books and took me to the library—even during typhoons—so I would always have something to read when we were stuck at home.

When I passed the entrance exam to UP, I was thrilled, then immediately wondered how I would manage the daily 1 hour commute to Diliman. I wasn’t even 16 when I started college, so Ma accompanied me every day, taking the early morning bus with me until I was old enough to make the trip on my own.

Whenever things went wrong, she had a quiet way of putting life into perspective. She would tell me, “Giselle, you have a brain. You can lose everything, but you will always have your brain. You can begin again. Don’t be afraid.”

When our restaurants in New York suffered during Covid, I held tightly to those words. I carried on and, in time, found my footing again. In a business world that is always changing, I still hear her reminding me: “You can lose everything and start again. You have your brain—it will never fail you.”

Mommy was always my champion, and because of that, I found myself doing so many things simply to make her happy. Although Roberto and I were not practicing Catholics, we chose to have a church wedding as an offering of love to her.

After the pandemic, as many New Yorkers began relocating, the CEO of BlackRock urged us to move to Palm Beach, where many of our regulars were heading. My first reaction was, “No way.” I thought of Florida the way many New Yorkers think of New Jersey (sorry, NJ). But a year later, we made the move for Mommy, so she could enjoy endless sunshine and the ocean always in view.

It turned out to be one of the best decisions we ever made. Palm Beach and West Palm Beach were booming, and before long, Roberto’s restaurant became the area’s number 1 fine-dining Italian restaurant.

Looking back, I realize that so many of the turning points in my life were shaped by the same woman who had once taken me to the library through typhoons: Mommy, always beside me, quietly teaching me that wherever life takes you, you can begin again.

Written by

Jill

I don’t know what her secret was, but our husbands seemed to love Mommy even more than they loved us! Mommy got along so well with Tristan that it completely shocked me. My husband had never once sung or even hummed a tune around me, but there he was, belting out Frank Sinatra songs alongside Mommy. Giselle’s husband, Roberto, was the exact same way—he could happily chat with Ma for hours on end.

Mommy just had a way of bringing out the best in everyone she met. She was never flashy and was always modest, but you could see a spark in her eyes that showed just how curious she was about the world and the people in it. She was quietly generous, shared whatever she had, and never made a big deal about what she did.

Jill walking two goldendoodles Jill and Connie at brunch Jill, Connie, and a friend at the beach
Jen Jen and Connie at dinner New Year's Eve celebration with Connie and family
Written by

Jen

What an honor and blessing to have you as my mother. I am what I am now because of you. You taught me values that shaped me to become the strong woman that I am today.

Everyone says you are beautiful, but you always say, “Do not be content with beauty alone. Stand out by having a beautiful heart and a beautiful brain.”

You lived your life with so much dignity, and you always reminded me to “build my blocks to heaven.”

I will continue to keep and follow these values in my heart. I love you, Mommy, forever.

Written by the family, for

Gino

Gino is completely heartbroken and still at a loss for words. He and Ma shared a very special bond, having cared for her in Manila after she retired, right up until she moved permanently to the US. This devastating loss comes at an already difficult time, as Gino recently suffered a stroke and is currently on a challenging road to recovery.

Gino and Connie Gino on his motorcycle Family dinner gathering
May 24

Mommy and Dad’s Wedding Memories

Connie and Carlos Mariano cutting their wedding cake Connie and Carlos Mariano beneath a sword arch Newspaper announcement of the wedding of Consuelo D. Alejandro and Lieut. Carlos M. Mariano
Connie's children at the beach at sunset, raising their hands to the sky

The day mom’s remains were cremated, we gathered at the beach to say goodbye.

As the sun slowly set, God Rays (crespular rays) appeared right in front of us, as if you were gently reminding us you were there.

Mommy, though your physical form is no longer with us, you live on in our hearts and in who we are. Our love for you continues to grow, and we miss you every single day.

We will honor you by living the way you did—with honesty, integrity, and a quiet strength of spirit—and by choosing happiness, knowing you walk with us always.

Family Updates

Gino

For 25 years, Gino owned a music school that trained Manila’s top singers and musicians. On the brink of embarking on a U.S. cultural exchange tour, his plans were abruptly halted by the Covid-19 pandemic. He has since retired following a stroke. Gino and his wife, Mel, have three children: Josh is working as a tech engineer; John is balancing a corporate job at a multinational company with law school (though he’s already eyeing a career pivot before AI takes over the legal world); and Athena, an elementary school teacher.

Giselle

After a career in journalism and then public relations, Giselle joined her husband’s restaurant business. Following two decades in New York City, they recently relocated to Palm Beach, Florida, where she has happily returned to her first love: writing.

robertodeiaco.com · Cuisine · About

Jill

Based in Düsseldorf, Jill runs her own convention services company. She lives with her husband, Tristan, an IT executive, and fills her free time indulging her passion as a major dog lover.

Jen

A certified Reiki and wellness coach, Jen runs her thriving beauty spa and wellness business. She is married to Enrique, an executive at Intuit. Her daughter, Isabella, started at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, NY, but plans to transfer to École Ducasse in Paris, while son James is in his final stretch of aviation school, well on his way to becoming a commercial pilot.

thezenroomsf.com