Eydie Calderon Detera

Full-time mother, partner, community activist, writer, artist and public librarian Eydie Calderon Detera passed away March 25 after suffering profound complications from a four-week battle with a severe form of pneumonia. She was 37 years old.

Eydie was a bridge builder who could connect with so many different people. She was purposeful with her words and actions and naturally empowered her loved ones to realize their own individual power to make positive change in their every day lives and in their community.

Viladeth “Dee” Saetia, Eydies husband said, “She really saw the good in others and supported those around her by trying to bring out the best in them. I think it’s because of this that there has been an outpouring of love and support. Eydie made me who I am today. And, when we decided to have children she devoted herself to cultivating the bond between herself and them through the philosophies and practices of attachment parenting. Just as she did with the friends that she embraced, she opened her heart purely and dedicated her life to our children.”

Eydie, who was a frequent contributor to the International Examiner and Pacific Reader, was known for her passion for educating others about the contributions of Filipino Americans, along with other Asian Pacific American communities. In the 1990s, she fought to advance the American Ethnic Studies program at the University of Washington. She also curated P.I. Made in America, a Wing Luke Asian Museum exhibition featuring the local contemporary Filipino American artists, and was a founding member of the Carlos Bulosan Memorial Exhibition.

“Eydie was so inquisitive, she stood for and spoke truth” said Pei Pei Sung, who knew her during their college days together at the University of Washington, where Eydie earned her second bachelor’s degree in American Ethnic Studies 1997. She also graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 1988 as ASB president, earned her first bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Chicago in 1992 through a full scholarship and a masters in information sciences from the UW in 2003.

In addition to Dee, Eydie is survived by her 5-year-old son Po, 3-year-old daughter Hansa, father Eddie, stepmother Susan, brother Jay, sister Yvette and nephew Simon.

Please join us for a celebration of Eydie’s life, Saturday, April 12, 4 to 7 p.m. at the Tukwila Community Center, Fireside Room R.S.V.P. by April 7 at eydiedetera.blogspot.com or eydiecelebration@earthlink.net.

There will be story telling and art activities for children. Everyone is welcome. Please share photographs with us for the celebration slide show. They can be emailed to eydiecelebration@earthlink.net by April 5.

At the family’s request a memorial fund has been setup at Wells Fargo Bank (Eydie Detera Memorial Fund, 5052720447).