Eden Guevara Baradi Dies At 101

Eden Guevara Baradi

Eden Guevara Baradi of Montauk, and formerly of the Philippines, died at her home on Saturday, February 18. She was 101.

Born June 12, 1910, in Marikina in metro Manila, Philippines, to Sabino and Macaria Guevara (née Teodoro), she came from a family of hardworking shoemakers who made “Marikina shoes,” known as the most durable, elegant and reasonably priced shoes in the Philippines, according to survivors. Ms. Baradi attended the Fashion Institute of the Philippines where she studied fashion design and soon after won second prize in a Philippine lottery in 1935.

Doctors, lawyers, rich and prestigious men, even con-men, entered her life, but it was Mauro Baradi, a hardworking lawyer, who caught her eye. Her parents had heard that Mr. Baradi was a married man and were against the match. Mr. Baradi vowed that he would not touch the money and make enough on his own to keep his wife happy and content for the rest of her life. The prize money was eventually distributed equally among Ms. Baradi’s siblings. The Baradis had four children.

For 10 years, Mr. Baradi served as an ambassador in Africa. Meanwhile, Ms. Baradi was active in the Philippine Ambassadors’ Wives Club. The couple returned to the Philippines in 1977, and Ms. Baradi kept the family together through plane trips, letters and phone calls.

When her husband died in 1979, she began traveling yearly to and from the Philippines to visit her children, while her daughter Pat Pacis took care of her in Elmont and Montauk, where Ms. Baradi had lived for 17 years before her death, and had a special affinity for her dogs, Princess Penguin Pilaria and Benjamin Pacis.

Ms. Baradi loved the Montauk Playhouse Community Center, was a member of Montauk Community Church and was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.

When she turned 95 on June 12, 2005, her family threw a large, formal dinner in Marikina City, Phillipines, and an even bigger dance party was thrown at the Marriott Hotel in Uniondale on her 100th birthday. A simple celebration was held on her 101st birthday at St. Peter’s Catch in Montauk, with all of her children in attendance.

She is survived by her children, Perla B. Spanskie of Long Beach, Mauro Baradi Jr. of New York City, Jose G. Baradi of the Philippines, and Patria B. Pacis of Montauk; a sister, Juliana Tactacan of the Philippines; grandchildren, Gregorio Baradi, Victoria B. Anderson, Yvette E. Michel, Gabriel Baradi and Kimberly A. Emanuel; and great-grandchildren, Cassandra and Ariana Baradi, Elena Pearl Michel, Leah Christine Anderson and Thomas Matteo Emanuel.

A funeral service will take place on Saturday, February 25, at 11 a.m. at the Montauk Community Church. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Yardley & Pino Funeral Home in East Hampton.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Montauk Community Church or the Montauk Playhouse Nutrition Center would be appreciated by the family.