Sonia Vertido

Sonia Abesamis Vertido, 79, of Palmdale, CA, passed away on Good Friday April 7, 2023 surrounded by her husband Canisio, their four children Jeff, Joanne, Erick and Martin; their spouses Mia, Greg, Grace Anne and Rhodalyn and 9 grandchildren Lex, Sophia, Marcus, Beatriz, Ava, Brooklyn, Zachary, Quincy and Kayla.


Sonia was born on November 4, 1943 to Reynaldo and Trinidad Abesamis in Leyte, Philippines. She is the eldest of ten siblings and looked after the younger ones making sure they were doing good at school and went to church regularly. In her teens, she enjoyed going to the beach with her cousins and loved to dance, joining the Leyte Kalipayan Dance Company. She moved to Manila shortly after high school and went on to study architecture at the University of Santo Tomas where she met and fell in love with her future husband Canisio with whom she married on January 3, 1971.


Sonia worked tirelessly to take care of the children while Cani traveled to different cities for work projects in the late 70s. Another job opportunity allowed for the family to live a better life in the US in 1988 with the whole family relocating in 1992. It was during the 4-year wait to move to the US that Sonia imparted the importance of prayer to her children making sure that the whole family prayed the rosary every day while waiting for the visa approvals. She played the role of both a mother and father for several years during this wait and despite all the struggles, she made sure that the children were okay.


Throughout this new life living in the US she continued to be supportive of her children’s goals and as her children each had their own careers and children of their own, they all look back at all the sacrifices Sonia had given for a better life.


Sonia loved spending time in the kitchen, cooking and baking for her loved ones, and made time to see her friends and family as often as she could. Her greatest pride was in her children and her grandchildren, whom she loved dearly. Her elegance and gentleness was felt by all who were acquainted with her.


Sonia’s memory will forever be with those she left behind. The whole family grieves her loss but they take comfort in knowing that someday they will all be together again.


In lieu of flowers, please donate to your preferred charitable organization on her behalf.

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