Maria Antonia Villamena Bantayan

On September 18, 2021, the world suddenly lost Maritoni Bantayan who was a beloved mother, wife, grandmother & friend. Although Maritoni battled diabetes, cardiac conditions & dialysis treatments, she continued to cook, love & pray for all her family & friends; especially for her husband Rodney, her two children Vincent & Fatima, & her granddaughter Chase. She always told her family that they were her strength, but really, she was theirs.

She was born to Dr. Carlos Villamena and Lourdes Ramel on October 13, 1961 in the Philippines. After graduating high school, Maritoni chased her dreams to start a new life in America. She was a cashier at Old Fresno Hofbrau, ran her own babysitting business, & best of all, she was an incredible home maker. Rodney will miss hearing her say she won while playing iPhone slot machine games, however she never won money. Vincent will miss how she never has an appetite for food but always asks for a complete serving of dessert. Fatima will miss her text messages and phone calls while they are in the same house.

She was full of sunshine to be around and her physical presence will be missed dearly. She will now be reunited with her mother and father.

To celebrate her and send her off to everlasting life, a Visitation for Maria will be held Sunday, October 3, 2021 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Whitehurst Sullivan Burns & Blair Funeral Home, 836 E. Nees Ave., Fresno, CA 93720, followed by a Recitation of the Holy Rosary from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, at 10:00am at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 5770 N Maroa Ave Fresno, CA. 93704