Simeona Acierto Medrano Albano, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, went home to her Maker on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012, in Fremont, California, surrounded by her loving family.
It was the end of her courageous long battle with cancer. She was diagnosed with breast cancer 20 years ago which she survived. In 2008, she developed lung and bone cancer and defied doctors’ initial prognosis of four to six months’ survival.
Born on February 13, 1919 in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte in the Philippines, she was the younger of the two daughters of Basilio and Florentina (Acierto) Medrano.
She graduated from National Teachers College in Manila, Philippines, and started teaching just before the outbreak of World War II. After a combined 60-plus years of teaching, she and her husband who was also a teacher as well as a school principal, immigrated to America, arriving in California in 1974 to join their oldest daughter and her family.
She may have retired from professional teaching in the Philippines when she came to America, but she found another class to teach in California - one where the pupils were her own grandchildren whom she lovingly babysat. Her home-taught education was given with lots of love and affection and generously sprinkled with long-held family values: faith in God, family togetherness, the value of education and hard work, giving without counting the cost and expecting nothing in return, and helping those who are less fortunate. Her whole life was devoted to God and family. She was the nurturer, the glue that kept the family together.
She had many interests, including gardening, music, singing, crocheting, and classic literature particularly beloved quotes from The Bible, Shakespeare, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Ralph Waldo Emerson, among many others. Her crocheted curtains, tablecloths, valances, bedspreads and many others that she made decorated the home. Her green thumb produced a wide variety of flowering plants, and was most proud of her dozens of bougainvillas and roses that bloomed in an array of colors.
In California, she was a long-time member of the Filipino Circle Club and the United Bacarreneos of America. She was also a longtime parishioner of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Fremont.
Simeona Acierto Medrano Albano leaves behind her loving and devoted husband of 68 years, Jose Pimentel Albano, Sr. She is also survived by her children Gloria (the late Antonio) Castro of Fremont, CA, Cesar (Violet) Albano of Lathrop, CA, Mindy (Vill) Galang of Fremont, CA, Bella (Florante) Asis of Fremont, CA, Rose (Anthony) Risso of Manteca, CA, and Jose Albano, Jr. of Fremont, CA, grandchildren Caroline (Jonas) Abulencia of Danville, CA, Cynthia (Richie) Dela Cruz of Hayward, CA, Anthony Castro of Fremont, CA, Vince Albano of Berkeley, CA, Ryan Albano of Seattle, WA, Alvin (Jennifer) Galang of Morgan Hill, CA, Jeffry John of Fremont, CA, Aileen Asis of Fremont, CA, Anne Liezel Asis of Fremont, CA, Alexander Asis of Fremont, CA, Kristopher Risso of Manteca, CA, Anthony Giovanni Risso of Manteca, CA great-grandchildren Jaiden and Aria Abulencia, Ellison, Jonah and Ava Dela Cruz, and Carmina Isabel and Tyler Galang, nephew Aurelio (Nerie) Acosta of Lathrop, grandniece Renelle Acosta of Lathrop, grandnephew Derryl Acosta of Lathrop, CA, grandniece Gloria Aquino Diaz of Weston Ranch, great-grandnephew Sergio “JunJun” Diaz of Weston Ranch; great-grandniece Stephanie Diaz, also of Weston Ranch, and many other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her beloved sister and brother-in-law, Maria and Dominador Acosta of Manteca, and son-in-law Antonio Castro.
Family and friends are invited to a viewing on Friday, Nov. 23, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a Rosary at 4 p.m., at Fremont Memorial Chapel, 3723 Peralta Blvd., Fremont, California. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, at 10 a.m. at Holy Spirit Church, 37588 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, California. Interment will follow at Chapel of the Chimes, 32992 Mission Boulevard, Hayward, California.
Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
