Obituary of Maria Arcebido

Maria Cristina Arcebido, known to most as Tina, was born in Manila, Philippines on December 26, 1953 to Cesario and Flotilda Tullao. Tina was one of five daughters - the middle child - who followed her father's dreams of her becoming a registered nurse. Tina began nursing school at the University of Santo Tomas in 1971, where she eventually met her husband, Rolando "Rolly" Arcebido, through mutual friends in 1974. What started as simple teasing, led to exclusive dating all throughout the rest of nursing school, graduation in 1976 and during the first two years of their working career. In 1978, the pair was able to begin their working visa in the United States. Rolly moved first, establishing roots in Ft. Myers, FL and Tina followed three months later. The two started with less than $200 in their pockets, experienced a cold first winter, but lived within their means and eventually saved up enough money to buy a TV and their first car—a used 1974 Toyota Corolla. They used this car to explore the US, often taking road trips on their days off with friends to Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee and even Virginia via the Blue Ridge Skyway. In 1979, Rolly and Tina moved to Miami after being persuaded by fellow nursing school classmates and in 1980, after saving enough money, finally wed in San Francisco, CA. They both began working at Aventura Hospital in North Miami, where Tina worked in the CCU and the Emergency Department. During Tina's 16 years at Aventura Hospital, she gave birth to her two most treasured gifts - her daughters, Rebecca in 1984 and Jennifer in 1988. As her daughters grew, so did her longing for something new in her career. In 1996, Tina graduated from Florida International University with her Master's Degree as a Nurse Practitioner. She then began working as a home health nurse in North Miami, establishing herself as a talented mid-level practitioner among the physicians in the area. This would eventually lead into her next career move - opening up her own home health agency - where she flourished. She was able to co-found up to three agencies, one in each county of Broward, Dade and West Palm Beach. When she was not working, Tina loved to spend time in her garden, vacationing around the world with her family and shopping with her daughters (of course). After her diagnosis of brain cancer, Tina spent her last year volunteering and praying with the sisters of the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus convent. Tina is often spoken of as a passionate, generous, goal-driven, no-nonsense woman who was always constantly working because, honestly, she loved what she did. Caring for the sick was never "work" to her, it was her calling. Tina was able to fulfill God's work not only through her career as a nurse, but also as a loving mother and faithful wife. We will remember her always as these things. We love you, Tina, and will always keep you in our hearts.