Fortunato Valeriano

Fortunato Rafael Valeriano Sr. was born on December 12, 1937 in Cabanatuan City, Philippines. He is the 4th child of Mr. Moises Valeriano and Mrs. Agapita Rafael. He reunited with his parents, and siblings, Florencio, Emilia, Clarita, Leonora and Adelaida whom all had died years before him. In August 15, 1959 we married his love of his life Hilaria Constantino Gueco. They were blessed with six beautiful children: Raquel, Dolores, Lilibeth, Leonilo, Vilma and Fortunato Jr. Fortunato Sr welcomed the company of his eighteen wonderful grandchildren and four delightful great grandchildren. His family and friends will always remember him as a virtuous, generous, and hardworking man, a loving and supporting father and grandfather, but most of all a very dedicated servant of God.

He was born and grew up as a member of Iglesia Ni Cristo. From a tender age, he had always held a position as an officer of the church. Among other positions before, he was a deacon in the locale of Meycauayan, Philippines from 1992 until he transferred to the locale of Skyline in 1994 where he served as a head deacon. In 2002, he with his wife Hilaria migrated to Los Angeles, CA USA where he continued to be a deacon until 2004. It was unfortunate that he started getting weaker due to his illness that he was not able to hold an officiating position any longer in his beloved church. But despite his physical disability and old age, he devotedly attended every worship service until the end.

He was a hardworking husband, father, brother. He was proficient in a lot of different skills. He was a carpenter, welder, auto body builder, mechanic, and an overall handy man. He worked for as a furniture maker at a young age, then in Rural Transit as a mechanic. As an owner of an auto-body repair shop for number of years, many of his customers found him a very reliable entrepreneur. He was hands on with all his job cases and made sure that every detail was done at its best condition.

“Atong” as he was fondly called by his friends and loved ones, always had a sweet smile, and likes cracking a joke. “Tatay” is how the whole family called him, from his children, grandkids, and his great-grandchildren. He was loved very much by his family, and he loved his whole family whole heartedly.

It was because of this love he fought hard to stay with them for as long as he can. Until December 27, 2020, when his body could no longer endure the illnesses he’d been battling with for several years, he passed away at the age of 83.