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Lucia Tinio received her nursing education at the Chinese General School of Nursing in the Philippines, earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 1969. From the very beginning, nursing was never just a profession for Lucia; it was a calling that reflected who she was at heart—compassionate, selfless, gentle, and deeply devoted to helping others.
She began her career at the Chinese General School of Nursing and later worked at Temple University before coming to the United States as part of her internship. After returning to the Philippines, she taught nursing at the Chinese General School of Nursing, passing on not only her knowledge, but also the values of kindness, patience, and service that defined her life.
She later returned to the United States and began her Kaiser career in 1976 in the Cardiac Care Unit at Kaiser Sunset. She transferred to Kaiser Bellflower and practiced in the Adult Intensive Care Unit and later in Dialysis. Lucia retired from Kaiser in 2007 after 31 years of service, then began a new chapter as a home health nurse and practiced nursing at Knott’s Berry Farm. With quiet strength, steady faith, and unwavering dedication, Lucia devoted more than 42 years to healing, comforting, and serving others.
In a deeply meaningful full-circle moment, Lucia later returned to Kaiser as a hospice patient. The place where she had spent so many years offering comfort, dignity, and care became the place where she herself was lovingly cared for—a reflection of the love and compassion she had given so generously throughout her life.
Lucia was truly a nurse’s nurse: caring, kind, warmhearted, passionate, giving, and faithful. To those who knew her, she was more than an excellent nurse; she was a calming presence, a steady hand, and a generous heart. She cared for people with skill, but also with tenderness, humility, and genuine concern. Her dedication to nursing was recognized with the DAISY Award for extraordinary nursing care, and she was also named Nurse of the Year.
As the first in her family to come to the United States, Lucia courageously opened a path that inspired her siblings, brother-in-law, daughter, nieces, and nephews to become nurses. Her life became a living example of service, faith, gratitude, and love. Soft-spoken and humble, she gave of herself every day, often in quiet ways that left a lasting impact. Lucia’s legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched, the family she inspired, and the generations of nurses who continue to carry forward her spirit of compassionate care. She will be remembered not only for the work she did, but for the love she poured int and the enduring example she leaves for all of us.