Sofronio Antuerpia was known as many things to many people. He was a loved one, a friend, and someone special. To family and friends who knew him best, Sofronio will be remembered as a very exceptional person.
Sofronio was born on August 20, 1920 in Legaspi, Albay, Philippines. He was the son of Jose and Modesta Antuerpia. Sofronio grew up in Manilla, Philippines.
Sofronio was raised with two siblings. He had two younger brothers, Jaime and Rafael. Sofronio was usually involved in all sorts of activities with his siblings. He and his siblings experienced rivalries typical of a growing family, but they shared many life experiences over the years.
As a young boy, Sofronio had a number of interests. Like most children, he enjoyed playing and making up games. He was curious about the world around him and was often eager to explore it. Sofronio was an active child who took part in tennis. However, to Sofronio, the most fun to be had was simply playing and spending time with his friends.
A typical teenager, Sofronio had a fairly happy high school experience, making that critical transition from adolescence to adulthood. He enjoyed some classes more than others, having favorite subjects and teachers. He finished 5th grade and studied vocational courses at Massat.
Sonfronio married his first wife Carmen in the Philippines. He married his second wife Fortunta in San Pedro, California. Empathic and loyal, Sofronio was committed to making his new family happy.
Sofronio worked hard to be a good father to his children and he did his best to fulfill their needs. Sofronio was blessed with seven children, Cecelia, Danilo, Imelda, Ferdinand, Andres, Melenica and Cristeta. He was also blessed with 21 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren.
Fortunately, Sofronio enjoyed what he did for a living. Showing a strong work ethic, Sofronio worked diligently and did his best to succeed in his career. His primary occupation was telephone warehousing employee. He was employed for 29 years by the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. Sofronio always sought to be a team player, doing what was necessary in order to get the job done.
Sofronio was a WWII veteran in the Philippine Army. His fellow soldiers viewed him as a brother in arms and knew that he was as much a part of their family as their loved ones back home.
Sofronio enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. His favorite pursuits were sports. He was content to enjoy his favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.
Sofronio found pleasure in sports. Sofronio was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed following his favorite events whenever he had the chance to do so. Tops on his list were tennis, boxing, basketball, table tennis and badminton.
Though he never set out to gain individual recognition, Sofronio was given accolades for his many and varied accomplishments throughout his life. Some of his most prestigious awards included trophies for tennis.
When Sofronio's retirement finally arrived in 1992, he was well prepared. In retirement, he found new pleasure in working as a volunteer at Fred Nellis Juvenile Correctional Facilities for 5 years. He also loved to play cards and bingo. Even in retirement, Sofronio continued to stay in touch with his old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances. Sofronio was active in his new community and felt fulfilled with the opportunities retirement offered him.
Sofronio passed away on September 20, 2011 at Queen of the Valley Hospital in West Covina, California. He is survived by his wife, Fortunata, his five children, Imelda, Ferdy, Andy, Lalen and Tet, his grandchildren and all of his loving family. Services were held at St. Christopher Catholic Church. Sofronio was laid to rest in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Covina, California.
Simply stated, Sofronio was a good and kind person, an individual who will for all time be remembered by his family and friends as being a caring and giving person, someone who was a vital part of their lives. Sofronio leaves behind him a legacy of life-long friendships and many cherished memories. Everyone whose life he touched will always remember Sofronio Antuerpia.