Bienvenido Gatbonton Osbual

Bienvenido Gatbonton Osbual, known affectionately as ‘Benny’, passed away on June 8, 2024. He was the fourth child of ten siblings, born on May 7, 1944, to Gonzalo and Juliana Osbual. Diagnosed in 2020, Benny fought a long battle from a rare condition called progressive supranuclear palsy.

Benny had a second chance at love and coincidentally met his future wife Loida Fernando at Lima cemetery of all places! Benny was visiting his first wife Gloria while Loida was visiting her father. Four years later they wed on July 7, 2012 in San Jose, CA. Prior to his passing, he lived in Mountain House, CA where Loida provided around the clock care in the latter years of Benny’s life leading up to his final last days. Loida will never forget his loving and kind spirit.

Benny supported himself through college and graduated from the University of Santo Thomas in Manila with a bachelor’s degree in commerce. He was an accountant by profession and freelanced as a real estate agent.

Benny met and married his first wife in the Philippines, Gloria M. Osbual on October 23, 1965. Together they had three daughters, Aurora, Bernadette, and Catherine. Gloria fought a courageous battle with cancer and passed away on October 31, 2008.

His journey to America began after a colleague from the Bank of the Philippines encouraged him to apply for a work visa. He was then able to petition his wife and eldest daughter. Benny was a faithful Catholic, with a caring character and a deep sense of duty to help his family. He subsequently sponsored his parents, siblings, and nephews to provide opportunities for his extended family.

Benny has always been a hard worker and retired from two companies, Safeway and VTA. He is recognized for being the foundation and ‘Godfather’ of the family. Although firm at times, he had a generous heart, a great sense of humor, enjoyed dancing, loved listening to music, and most importantly was a provider and mentor to his family and friends.

Benny was also an avid traveler and had visited many places locally and internationally. He also had a blast playing bingo, mahjong, and dominos. His favorite sports teams include the Golden State Warriors and the San Francisco 49ers.

Benny was preceded in death by his first wife, Gloria M. Osbual; his parents, Gonzalo and Juliana Osbual; his siblings, Soledad (Arturo) Castor, Emelia (Crispulo Sr) Bronil, and Reynaldo Osbual. He is survived by his wife, Loida Fernando; his children, Aurora (Peter) Kern, Bernadette (Michael) Aldrich, Catherine (Gabriel) Leon; his stepchildren, Louie Ann (Florencio) Lavadia, Erick Tamayo, Michael Tamayo; his grandchildren, Benjamin Aldrich, Alexandria Aldrich, Taylor Kern, Caden Leon, and Lorence Lavadia; his mother-in-law, Maxima Fernando; his sisters, Teresita (Antolin) Reyes, Angelita (Charles) McIntyre, Nida (Rey) Lingad; his brothers Gonzalo “Boy” (Cora) Osbual, Renato (Tina) Osbual, and Edgar (Judy) Osbual; his devoted friends, Modesto (Belen) Sacmar and Josefino (Amparo) Bulaong; his brother-in-laws Amador (Josefina) Fernando and Cesar (Leonarda) Fernando; and loved by a host of nieces and nephews, along with their children, other relatives and friends whom he always enjoyed spending time with.

The family extends their sincere thanks to his doctors and specialists at Sutter Health (notably Dr Vergara his primary care doctor) and UCSF, the staff at Stanford ValleyCare, Vitas Hospice, and Lima Milpitas-Family Mortuary and Cedar Lawn Cemetery (Kimberly, Wendy, Hanh, Ariel, Ashley, Lily, and Ginger) for handling Benny’s final arrangements with gentleness and understanding. The family acknowledges his dedicated part-time caregivers Carina Nuguid, Jeany Ruiz, and Sheryll Alcantra for their support and commitment to Benny; his companion-drivers Ramon Alina along with Francis Barles, his nephew who accompanied Loida and Benny to and from medical appointments; Ryan Ambuyoc, Benny's all-round handyman who's been a tremendous help keeping Benny safe around the home; and Florencio 'Jun' Lavadia, Benny's son-in-law who graciously moved-in to assist Benny and Loida for the past 3.5 years and did the majority of the heavy-lifting, personal barber, and became the jack-of-all-trades and right-hand man for them. Lastly, a profound thank you to Father Delfin Tumaca for attending and blessing many milestone events in Benny’s life; to Pastor Benjamin Martinez for faithfully keeping Benny and Loida in his prayers; and to Father Andy Ligot for presiding over Benny’s funeral services and final resting place. God has placed these special people and many more in Benny's life and the family is eternally grateful for their love and support.

Visitation will be held at Lima Family Milpitas-Fremont Mortuary on Thursday, July 11, 2024 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm and Friday July 12, 2024 from 3:00pm to 8:00pm with a Prayer Service at 5:30pm; Funeral Mass will be held at St Elizabeth Catholic Church in Milpitas on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 12:30pm, and Benny will be laid to rest at Cedar Lawn Cemetery at 2:00pm. Please don something white for Saturday's services. A reception to follow with details after the burial.

You will be missed Benny, a great husband, father, grandfather, son, brother/kuya, uncle/tito, cousin, friend and colleague. Goodbye for now and until we meet again...