Plurinsus "Lou" Ordansa

On Monday, June 12, 2023, Plurinsus  “Lou”  Giraro Ordansa of Glen Burnie, Md passed away peacefully. Beloved husband of the late Catalina M. Ordansa; loving father of Neofito Ron M. Ordansa and his wife, Janet, and Vincent Romeo Ordanza and his wife, Rita;  devoted grandfather of Alex, Nicholas and Marisa; and cherished great-grandfather of Maika and Catalina. He is also survived by his sister, Patricinio.

Lou was preceded in death by his parents, Mariano  M. and Antonina D. Ordanza; and his brothers, Persing, Felipe and Remedio.

The youngest of 5 siblings, Plurinsus Giraro Ordansa was born on July 2, 1933 to Filipino parents living and working in Oahu, HI. Plurinsus learned early in life that you can dream big, but it’s hard work and some luck that will eventually make it real. Because of finances, his father, Mariano, and his mother, Antonina, along with his siblings moved back to the Philippines. There, Plurinsus witnessed hardship as a child, the worse being in the middle of a Japanese invasion during WWII in the 1940’s. Eventually, he would meet Catalina Cabrerra Mola, through a series of letters—they were pen pals! He was impressed by her writing. After all, she was a college graduate teaching in Taal, Batangas. They eloped in 1961 and how lucky for Plurinsus he met Catalina, because she believed in his dream of coming to America and helped him obtain a passport.

In 1962, Romeo Vicente came to the world, the couple’s first born son. In 1964, Neofito Ronnie became the second. During these years and in between, Plurinsus never stopped trying to make his way to the U.S. Until finally, after many paperwork, application, and conversations with officials at the U.S. Embassy, Plurinsus obtained a work visa of sorts to work on incoming/outgoing ships. Eventually, a ship he was on was ordered unexpectedly to head to New York from Hawaii since it was sold to a foreign nation. Plurinsus was not happy about this since he wanted to see his wife and two boys and he knew nothing about New York. But as LUCK would have it, this was the best thing that could happen. It was the pivot to a new life he would live and his family too.

Long story short, he eventually joined the Seafarers International Union, got more jobs on ships, moved to Baltimore where he settled because of its busy ports, and saved enough money to move his wife and their two boys from the Philippines to America. They all lived in Baltimore, Fells Point, for quite some time before moving to Glen Burnie. Both boys thrived and attended college and have successful careers. Plurinsus enjoyed life—playing guitar, listening to Hawaiian music, jamming on his keyboard, being part of the Filipino club, gardening—and always, Catalina by his side until April of 2021 when she passed.

Plurinsus is one of five siblings. His older brothers are Persing, Felipe, and Remedio. They all have passed away. The only one still alive is his sister, Patricinio, who resides in the Philippines. Aside from his two sons Romeo and Ron, Plurinsus also has three grandchildren: Alexander, Nicholas, and Marisa. And lastly, Plurinsus has two great-granddaughters: Maika and Catalina (yes, named after her grandmother).

Family and friends are invited to gather at Singleton Funeral & Cremation Services, 1 Second Avenue, SW (at Crain Highway), Glen Burnie, MD 21061 on Thursday, June 15, 2023 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 PM where a Celebration of Life Funeral Service will be held on Friday, June 16, 2023 at 11:30 AM. Graveside Service and Interment to follow at Meadowridge Memorial Park, Elkridge, MD.