Numeriano Jalbuena

Dr. Numeriano Jalbuena Jr., 81, died unexpectedly August 9 ^th , 2023, at Adena Regional Medical Center in Chillicothe, Ohio, after a very brief illness with COVID-19.  He was born May 29 ^th , 1942, in Ma-asin, Iloilo, Philippines, the son of Numeriano Jalbuena Sr. and Trinidad (Mondejar) Jalbuena.

Known to his Filipino family as "Toto", which means "Junior" in the Philippines, and as "Jun" for "Junior" to his friends and family in the States, Dr. Jalbuena graduated from Cabatuan High School in Iloilo, Philippines, and attended medical school at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.  He immigrated to the United States in 1968 to complete his medical residencies in general surgery and urology.  While in residency in Erie, Pennsylvania, he fell in love with a nurse named Kathryn Ryan, and the two were married on August 29 ^th , 1970.  They spent a short time in North Carolina before settling in Chillicothe in 1975, and together they raised four children while he practiced medicine at Ross Urology and Adena Regional Medical Center.  He served his community faithfully as a doctor for 39 years, helping thousands of patients over the decades.  He was known for taking plenty of time to talk with patients in the office, always being kind to hospital staff even when they called him in the middle of the night, and always being willing to help patients in a pinch.  He was a member of the Ohio Medical Association, and he served as President of the Ross County Medical Society.

Dr. Jalbuena became a citizen of the United States in 1978, was a history buff, and an incredibly avid fan of all things Ohio State, often watching particularly fun football games over and over.  One of his loves was woodworking, and he designed, built, and gave away over 60 hand-crafted Adirondack-style outdoor chairs to friends and family far and wide.  More recently, he created and gave away many beautiful stained-glass pieces of art and home furnishings.  In addition, over the years, he helped many of his nieces and nephews in the Philippines with their education costs and participated in fundraising drives for the American Cancer Society and his hometown Catholic parish in the Philippines.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister Rosemary Magsalin.  He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Kathryn (Ryan) Jalbuena, as well as siblings Delia Velasco, Siegfred Jalbuena, Brenda Martirez, and Olga Encanto.  Also surviving are children Tracy Jalbuena and her husband James Cook of Camden Maine; Daniel Jalbuena and his partner Susan Bell of Chillicothe; Anthony Jalbuena of Chillicothe; Amy Jalbuena and her husband Daniel Wade of Grove City Ohio; grandchildren Ellie Jalbuena-Cook, Theresa Jalbuena-Cook, Nora Wade and Josephine Wade, and many nieces and nephews.

Viewing hours will be at Haller Funeral Home at 1661 Western Avenue, Chillicothe, Ohio on Tuesday, August 15 ^th from 4pm to 8pm.  A funeral mass will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church at 61 South Paint Street, Chillicothe Ohio on Wednesday, August 16 ^th at 11am.

Your health and safety are important to our family.  If you are immunocompromised, if you have been exposed to COVID-19, or think you might have COVID-19, please consider wearing a mask.  Complementary masks will be available at the doors.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Mackenzie's Mission (mm713.org), a philanthropic organization that saves lives by teaching medical professionals about amyloidosis, or to the Amyloidosis Support Group (amyloidosissupport.org).