Socorro Lim

Socorro Lim was born in Baliuag, Bulacan in the Philippines on March 31, 1925. Her father was Jose Toribio and her mother was Rufina Igna. She had seven sisters and brothers. Siblings Bonifacia Mapoy, Ricardo Toribio, Romeo Toribio, Iluminada Santos, Rosario Gonzales predeceased her. She was the third oldest of her siblings. She passed away at 95 years of age on January 15, 2021 in San Diego, CA.

As a young girl, Socorro ended her education after elementary school in order to work and help support her family. She remembered as a young child listening to her elders tell stories of surviving the worldwide depression and walking miles on her own carrying produce items for her mother’s deli style store. During WWII, Socorro and her family provided aide and attendance to US troops and Filipino military forces during the Japanese occupation of the Philippine Islands. They provided shelter to and hid munitions for the American soldiers who were sent to the Japanese occupied Philippines to assist the local Filipino resistance. Socorro’s brother Ricardo was second in command of the regional Filipino freedom fighters. Through Ricardo she met her future husband Alfred Lim, a U.S. Army soldier and demolitions expert sent to the Philippines to help pave the way for General MacArthur’s return. She was 20 years old when she married Alfred in a simple post war ceremony On their 65th wedding anniversary in San Diego they renewed their wedding vows, with their sons as groomsmen and daughter and daughters-in-law as bridesmaids. Their grandchildren were part of the wedding chorus and ukulele band.

Socorro immigrated to the United States with her husband in 1948 with their two oldest sons, Alfred Jr. and Jaime. Daughter Lillian and son Chris were born thereafter. Socorro and Alfred raised their four children in Berkeley, California. Although Socorro and her husband had little formal education, they created opportunities for their children to attend and graduate from Ivy League colleges, military academies and graduate schools. Socorro described herself as wholly self-taught because she was an avid reader and she kept current on the news of the day. She was also a sports fan and enjoyed watching her local professional teams. A loving mother and homemaker, Socorro was an excellent cook and enjoyed preparing meals for her family, friends and friends of her children. The couple helped raise their grandsons Peter and Jeff. Much like her own parents who fed many Filipinos fleeing from the Japanese or returning to their homes after WWII, Socorro and Alfred provided help and support to neighbors in need. They would assist Japanese neighbors working at San Diego cross border businesses navigate American bureaucracy. They took care of elderly neighbors who did not have children nearby. They had many practical skills such as electrical, plumbing and tiling, which they deployed to assist the friends of their children.

Alfred, her loving husband of 73 years predeceased Socorro in 2018. Their hanai son Peter (Denise) passed away in the summer of 2020. Socorro is survived by her two younger sisters, Corazon Lapid and Elvira Mendoza (Ed), her four children, Alfred Lim, Jr. (Judy), Jaime Lim, Sr. (Mely), Lillian Lim (Mac) and Chris Lim (Lorraine). She is also survived by eight grandchildren, Jaime Lim, Jr., Jason Lim (Brigit) Peter Lim Quon (Helen), Jeffrey Toribio Quon (Michelle) Jonathan Lim (Stacey), Melanie S. Ivanov (Vadem), Hillary Lim Pelizza (Joseph), Sara O’Connor (Daniel) and 12 great grandchildren, Madison, Gabriela, Aiden, Socorro, Quincy, Meilani, Isaiah, Camden, Gabriel, Briggs, Aubrey and Penelope. Socorro also enjoyed the company of her step grandchildren and step great grandchildren, especially Randy (Katie) with their children Layni, Taylin and Daxton.

Socorro’s family was happy and privileged to return her love for them by caring for and supporting Socorro and Alfred during the last several years. Special thanks also to the friends (Carl Castillo, Maxine Cutler, Lawrence Hee, Kathy Lam, Elsie Secoquian and Steve Gold) and caregivers (Evelyn, Genie, Fe, Kathleen and also Edlyn and Jules in Hawaii) who provided help to Socorro and Al over the last several years. During the last two years of her life, Socorro received around the clock care from Ohana Care Home in San Diego. The family remains forever grateful to Frank and Seiko and their staff. Services and internment at the National Veterans Cemetery at Miramar in San Diego, CA will be held at a future date due to Covid. A celebration of Socorro’s life will also be scheduled in San Diego at that time.

FAMILY

Alfred Lim Jr., Son

Jaime Lim, Son

Lillian Lim, Daughter

Chris Lim, Son