Pilar Maria Thatcher, age 77, of Arlington, Texas, passed away peacefully on May 31, 2026, in the home she shared with her daughter and family.

Born on August 17, 1948, Pilar lived a life marked by faith, strength, generosity, and love. She dedicated her years to being a devoted homemaker and was known for her deep care for others, her unwavering devotion to family, and her commitment to living her life fully and passionately.

Pilar found joy in attending church, sewing for herself and others, and creating unique jewelry. She shared her creativity and warmth freely, offering comfort, beauty, and kindness to everyone around her. Her presence brought joy, her hands created gifts of love, and her spirit touched countless lives.

Pilar was one of five surviving children, and her family was extremely poor. She left her family at a very young age to find work in the city as a maid to well-off families. She worked as a maid for several years, until she met Lowell McDonald, who would become her husband and the father of her only child.

She lived comfortably with her husband and child in the Philippines, until growing political unrest and an increasing anti-American atmosphere urged her husband to return to the US. He traveled from the Philippines in 1979, leaving behind his wife and child, to gain employment and save money to bring Pilar and their daughter to the US. The family of three left the Philippines in 1980 and settled in Abilene, Texas, the place Pilar called home for over 40 years.

Pilar was blessed to find and make many friends in Abilene. She and her daughter, Jeanette, were baptized and became members of Elmwood Baptist Church in December 1980. They were members of Elmwood until Jeanette married in 1993, graduated from Hardin-Simmons University, and moved away to Denton in 1994.

Pilar continued to attend Elmwood, where she loved being part of her Sunday School class, appropriately named the Rose Class. She remained a member at the church, through Lowell's death in 2007 and past her remarriage to Minot Piper in 2010. She eventually left Elmwood to join Second Baptist Church, where she remained until 2014.

Pilar made friends easily, especially after she joined the US-Philippines Friendship Organization (USPFO) of Abilene. She always had a great love of music and dancing, and she jumped at the chance to become part of a traditional dance group that formed within the USPFO. She was active in this dance group from the late 1990s until the mid-2000s. She became instrumental in the creation of the group's traditional Philippine dress for their dance costumes, and worked tirelessly sewing skirts and blouses, adding beads and sequins to various costume pieces.

Pilar was married to Lowell for 35 years when he passed away in October of 2007. That was an incredibly difficult year for her, as she took care of her ailing husband and anticipated the birth of her third grandchild. When Lowell died, she had to learn how to live on very limited resources. With sheer strength and an unwavering faith that God would provide, she managed.

Pilar did not have the opportunity to receive a formal education, since she had to begin work at such an early age, but she was highly intelligent. She showed it in the way she could create anything she put her mind to: sewing, making jewelry, arranging flowers, cooking...she did everything with verve and intensity. Pilar imbued everything she created with her own unique and beautiful spirit and style.

Pilar is survived by her daughter, Jeanette Joy Reed (Charles) and their children Glen Ethan, Nathan Carter, and Grace Naomi; grandchildren Robin Wagman (Ron) and their children; Christopher McDonald (Annie) and their children; her sister Ester Pajanustan Nebrija; and numerous nieces and nephews residing in the Philippines.

She is preceded in death by her parents Segundino Pajanustan and Brejida Mengolio Madeja; brothers Culas M. Pajanustan and Crisin M. Pajanustan, and sister Elena P. De Andres; first husband Lowell E. McDonald, second husband Minot Piper, and third husband Howard Thatcher.

A service to honor and celebrate Pilar's life will be held on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Mayfield Road Baptist Church (1701 E. Mayfield Road Arlington, Texas 76014). All who knew and loved her are welcome to attend.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Mayfield Road Baptist Church's God Is Able Fund.

Donation Link Here: https://mayfieldroad.org/giving