Trinidad was born on January 27, 1924 in Hawaii. Her parents were part of The Sakada Era, having sailed to Hawaii from the Philippines, to work the sugar cane and pineapple plantations. When she was 3, the family sailed back to the Philippines and made their life in Oangagan, Vintar, Ilocos Norte.
She married Samuel Ascierda Edralin and became a young mother in the 1940s. She had 3 children: Mercedes Ofe, Rosebelia, who died in childhood, and Bartholomew, who died in infancy. She spent much of her days as a homemaker and helped her husband manage the small storefront they had at their home in Oangagan. In 1966, their daughter, Mercedes Ofe, travelled to America and Trinidad and Samuel soon followed in 1967, just in time to greet their first grandchild, Wilma. They built their first and only home next door to their daughter where she lived an idyllic life of being a grandmother right next door to her granddaughters, Wilma and Merideth, and had the privilege of daily interactions with them. Trinidad enjoyed sewing and tending to her garden and yard, with Samuel. She was also an immaculate housekeeper and prided herself on maintaining a tidy home. She was a renown babysitter for numerous nieces and nephews, including her great grandson Tanner. Trinidad was an integral part of petitioning her siblings and their families to come to America, and felt complete knowing they were all together in the Cutler-Orosi area. She attended St Mary’s church in Cutler and was a proud member of the Vintarinian Association of Tulare County.
When there were no more children to care for, she worked alongside her husband and other family on her son-in-law’s farm. Willie and daughter Mercedes grew different vegetables including eggplants, sugar peas and okra. Soon came great grandchildren, which were the highlight of her life. She was able to visit Wilma and her family in South Carolina in 1996 and enjoyed every minute of it.
In 2008, the love of her life, Samuel, passed away and soon after she moved in with Mercedes and Willie, where she lived out the rest of her days with visits from family and friends. Her health began to decline in 2021, but she remained faithful and graceful with The Lord’s plan for her life until she peacefully passed away at the age of 100, warm in her bed and with family at her bedside.
Trinidad is survived by her brothers Joe Carlos, Sr., Moises Carlos and his wife Editha and Urbano Carlos and his wife Lita; her sister-in-law Aida Carlos; her granddaughters Wilma Newman and her husband Bryan, Merideth Moreno and her husband Ray, her great-grandchildren: Ethan Newman and his wife Lila, Austin Newman and his wife Rachel, Trevor Newman, Joseph Newman, Hope Newman, Tanner Moreno; her son-in-law Willie Domingcil and numerous nieces and nephews.
Trinidad was preceded in death by her husband Samuel Edralin; her children: Mercedes Ofe Domingcil, Rosebelia Edralin, Bartholemew Edralin; her father Teodorico Bitanga and her mother Regina C. Bitanga; her siblings: Liolioa B. Patingo, Primitivo R. Bitanga and Domingo Carlos.
A visitation for Trinidad will be held Thursday, July 18, 2024 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Dopkins Funeral Chapel, 189 South J Street, Dinuba, CA 93618. A funeral mass will occur Friday, July 19, 2024 at 10:00 AM at St. Mary Catholic Church, 12588 Avenue 407, Cutler, CA 93615. Followed by an interment at Smith Mountain Cemetery, 42088 Rd 100, Dinuba, CA 93618.
