December 27, 2007

Artesia News

A twist of irony

After death, Carlos Lanting, a medical doctor and longtime Artesia resident, is taken care of by his longtime patient; who is a mortician.


Dr. Carlos Lanting passed away in his Artesia home on Sunday, Dec. 9 at the age of 84. 

 

Dr. Lanting, an immigrant from the Phillippines, could be called a pillar of the community because those who have lived in Artesia long enough probably encountered him at one time or another, as he was here since 1961 as a doctor at the Artesia Community Hospital, which is now covered by commercial buildings along Pioneer Blvd.

 

One of his patients was Anthony Nunes, a mortician with Chapel of Memories.  In a final twist of irony, Nunes took care of Lanting in death just as Lanting took care of Nunes in life.

 

Dr. Lanting began working at the small hospital/clinic, and later owned it.  Many Artesians over the years frequented the small medical center and even got to know Lanting and his staff on a first name basis.  One of these patients was a young Anthony Nunes.

 

“He was a country doctor,” said Nunes, who had developed a close relationship with Dr. Lanting as a patient for approximately 40 years.  

Nunes reminisced about an interesting experience he had after splitting his scalp many years ago.

 

Nunes called Dr. Lanting and told him about his predicament, and Lanting said the clinic was closed and that he was going to Saturday Mass at Holy Family, where he enjoyed being an usher.

 

Nunes protested and said he only trusted the good doctor to do the job and that he will wait for him the following day.  With almost no choice, Dr. Lanting told Nunes he would open up the clinic and see him.

 

At the time, Nunes had longer hair and Lanting had no string available to thread his scalp.  So, he used Nunes’ long hair instead of thread and afterward gave him a tetanus shot.  With that, Lanting started getting ready to go to Mass.

 

“Wait, I should pay you,”  said Nunes, after realizing that Lanting had no intention of being paid.

 

“Don’t worry about it,” replied Lanting.  “I have to go to church.”

 

Nunes gave a short moment of silence and asked, “Where can you meet a doctor like that today?”

 

Dr. Lanting was a very benevolent man, says Nunes. 

 

“It really is kind of ironic,” explained Nunes.  “Dr. Lanting helped take care of me while I was alive, and I took care of him after he passed on and he wouldn’t have it any other way.”

 

Dr. Lanting is a former Planning Commissioner for the City of Artesia, and even owned and operated a small chain of restaurants called Casa Carlos.  In Quezon City, The Phillippines, the Dr. Carlos S. Lanting College was named after him.

 

 

 

 

 

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