Benjamin Asperin

April 25, 1930 - April 12, 2021

Benjamin Asperin Sr. passed away peacefully in his home on April 12, 2021. He leaves behind his wife of 73 years, Rufina, and is survived by his 8 children, Teresita, Benjamin Jr.(Teresita), Eleanor (Danilo), Florante (Simplicia), Romeo (Rita), Hazel (Nestor), Don (Helene), and Chito, and predeceased by his son Reynaldo (Regina). In his 91 wonderful years on this earth, Benjamin was a grandfather to 19 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild with another great-grandchild and great-great-grandchild on the way this year.

Benjamin Asperin Sr. was born in Pangasinan, a province in the Philippines, on April 25, 1930 to Aquilino and Pas Asperin (nee Apostol). He was the oldest of 10 siblings. He met his wife, Rufina, at a young age and they were married just shy of his 18th birthday on April 22, 1948. They started the ever expanding Asperin family May 1949 when their first child was born. Over the span of the next twenty years they had 9 children together.

Benjamin served five Philippine presidents during his 24 years of service with the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He was most proud of his service when in 1961 he was assigned aide-de-camp, officer on duty and personal driver to then President Diosdado Macapagal. Benjamin served President Macapagal and his family until his retirement in 1975. By the 1980s, Benjamin and Rufina immigrated to Vancouver, BC to start a new life in Canada.

During his time in Vancouver, Benjamin had a very active social life. He was part of the Filipino Seniors Club, Philippine Veterans Association, and the Forever Young Society with Rufina. They danced together every Sunday at various Filipino Seniors Club gatherings and were often seen being crowned and sashed annually, dressed in traditional Filipino attire and sharing their favourite parts of Filipino culture with their children and grandchildren. During the week he helped take care of his grandchildren and spent his evenings socializing and playing bingo where he and Rufina made friends with many people at the Croatian Cultural Centre, the Italian Cultural Centre, and other bingo halls in Vancouver. Benjamin was also a frequent customer at the Chevron on Grandview Highway, purchasing lotto tickets and scratch cards to share with Rufina. When not playing bingo, Benjamin spent his evenings watching wrestling and listening to Filipino music and oldies. He would sing to his wife, or with his wife, their favourite songs.

Even though we will miss him dearly, we find comfort knowing that he is now resting and at peace. His legacy continues in his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. If there’s anything that he would want us to remember it is to always be respectful, don’t worry too much, and to keep on going; always ending his wise words with a mahal na mahal kita.

Visitation for family members only will take place on April 21, 2021 from 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM and 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM at Ocean View and will be streamed online. A funeral mass will take place a St. Jude Parish (3078 Renfrew S Vancouver) on April 23rd from 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm and will also be streamed online.

On behalf of the Asperin family, thank you to everyone for sending their condolences and for sharing your stories of our dear husband, dad, and lolo Benjamin.