Eduardus Teddy Junanto

(June 5, 1969 - January 19, 2025)

Eduardus Teddy Junanto, to most, known as Teddy, left this earth on Sunday, January 19, 2025. It was an unexpected death, but it was quick, and it was painless, and for this we are grateful.

He was born in Surabaya, Indonesia. There, he prided himself on being the “class clown” and living a lone wolf lifestyle. He would tell stories about skipping class, being the center of attention, and even getting trampled alone at a soccer stadium at age 10. His mom, Theresia Kozitsky, left to go to the United States when he was 11, and so he was raised by his aunt, Itje Tedjakumala.

He moved to the United States at age 19 after graduating high school in 1988. He loved life in college, meaning he loved taking any PE classes the college could offer (volleyball, basketball, badminton, you name it). In college, he also met his future wife, Mei Junanto. He was enamored by her. They “met” for the first time in front of the Fullerton college library (he had already met her at a party, she didn’t remember him). But he followed her round and round until she fell back in love with him, and besides a 6-year long distance stint, they’ve been inseparable best friends since.

In this time, he loved doing all kinds of jobs as well - he was a security guard, a pizza deliverer, an organ seller (the instrument, not the body part). He also loved being reunited with his mother and sister, Gabrielle Tedjasukmana, as well. And he found his biggest love (I’m kidding, but not really) - bowling. At one point, he bowled in 5 different leagues maybe 5 times in a week. And he especially loved bowling with family, and found lifelong friends through this hobby. One such friend was Eric Pham, this was his best friend of 26 years, and he actually passed away last year, on January 19, 2024. Teddy loved bowling until the day he died - he was so excited to go to the bowling alley the moment it happened. He also fell in love with the LA Lakers. You must have seen him in one of his 25 Lakers shirts at one point.

In December 2000, Mei and Teddy finally reunited with each other, got married, and settled down in Garden Grove. They had a little girl, Megan, in 2002, and another one, Melanie, in 2007. He actually did NOT like kids previous to having his daughters, but he was so so fond of them. And as they grew up, he was so proud of every achievement. If you’ve talked to Teddy, you would have heard him brag about one or the other or both. He loved going on family vacations, going to Japan, China, Canada, Indonesia, Croatia. He loved being there for every life milestone. But most of all, he loved when his three loves were together, at home, eating out, driving together.

He started working at Edison around the time he got married. Besides a short period at Jacobs, he worked at Edison for nearly 23 years. By the time he passed, he was a Project Controls Major Project Advisor. He was so prideful in his work there. And he made so many good friends there - he truly did find some people as close as family. And he was so dedicated to his work - when he was recovering from his triple bypass in August 2023, he told everyone that he was reciting work processes in his head. He also got an MBA in National University in 2004 - he was so proud of his achievement because he was the first to get a master’s degree in his family.

Teddy was so dedicated to every aspect in his life. He put his everything into his family and his work. He also put everything into helping the rest home, Maureen Guest Home, that his mother left. He also loved helping out at Saint Columban, even after his daughters had long graduated. Teddy loved being a Knight of Columbus, and he found so much joy in being an Usher at the 9:30 am mass.

Teddy was so loved by everyone he met. He was such a goofy person, he knew how to make everyone smile so hard. He also loved telling stories, especially about his daughters. He was such a generous, generous soul, he cared too much about everyone else. He also loved taking pictures and capturing memories, you would’ve seen him with his phone in the dad pose.

If you had the pleasure of knowing Teddy in this lifetime, we hope you cherished every moment with him. He was a blessing in our lives, and we will miss him so dearly.

He joins his mother, his best friend, and so many other loved ones in Heaven (we hope you’re bowling up there). And he is survived by his wife, his daughters, and his sister.

(written by Megan Junanto)

A visitation for Eduardus will be held Thursday, February 6, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at Westminster Memorial Park, 14801 Beach Blvd., Westminster, CA 92683.

A rosary will occur Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 3:30 PM, 14801 Beach Blvd., Westminster, CA 92683.

A church service will occur Friday, February 7, 2025 at 8:30 AM at Saint Columban Catholic Church, 10801 Stanford Ave., Garden Grove, CA 92840.

A graveside service will occur Friday, February 7, 2025, 14801 Beach Blvd., Westminster, CA 92683.