Raquel "Rocky" Lantin Asperas
THANK YOU ALL for making the effort to support the family in your showing of Love at the VIEWING, FUNERAL MASS and RECEPTION. BIG HUGS...
RAQUEL: February 20, 1954 – January 14,2019 - Raquel Lantin Asperas 64 of Simi Valley, CA will be greatly missed and remembered with deep affection by family and her ever-expanding family-of-friends whom she touched with well-timed motherly support, steady advice, life encouragement and leadership - a life well-lived.
Born in Manila, Philippines to Teodoro and Anita Lantin, Catholicism was her foundation for how she lead her life. Receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology at 21, she married and moved to Guam for 2 yrs, then San Jose’, CA in 1977 to have a family and career.
Raquel’s father, being a successful contractor; designed and fabricated industrial machines and equipment for Shell and Colgate and others in the Philippines, and Raquel changed work and developed herself into a successful Manufacturing and Materials Planner or Program Manager for companies such as Benchmark Electronics, NEO Tech (Flextronics, Stellar Microelectronics), AeroVironment and Trompeter Electronics.
Raquel loved organizing social get togethers at interesting and delicious restaurants; traveling to new places like Thailand, Palm Springs, Colorado, Philippines or Yosemite camping undefined local area hikes; dancing and concerts of all music types mainly RundefinedB, Popular, Jazz and crooner Frank Sinatra genres. Health conscious – kickboxing, Zumba, yoga and weight lifting and getting her heart rate to 164 BPM were some of her favorites. She continued to attend and support her church with her time and resources. And of course - Go Lakers.
Friends undefined coworkers commented, ‘she was like a mother to me, changed the way I eat, exercise … telling me how to take care of myself…’. Raquel’s daily Smoothie Recipe: Plant-based protein powder, blueberries, spinach, kale, 3 egg whites, Almond milk undefined water (leaves me with a Smiley Face … with a tear!) Her positivity, elegant dress and style will also be missed because many commented how the company was waiting for Raquel to walk in to see what she was wearing. 20 years down the road with Raquel it became apparent – that she was so clearly loved by so many people – because she connected with them or “touched” others daily through her acts and words of kindness and often strong words in your support that showed her real love of all her fellows in human kind. I am, to this day, trying to glean and learn from her life so I may be a better brother of our society - as everyone hopes for.
Raquel shared to me a belief and optimism – daily – that things will be alright and to remain positive. She encouraged me to be better. To achieve, be kind to people, inclusive to others in your orbit, be even tempered, happy, supportive of others. And to acknowledge them and be kind and do something special.
She is survived by her 3 children Jerica Ware, Justine Gankas, Joshua Asperas; Jerica’s 3 grandchildren Noah, Robert and Jeralyn; 2 sisters Evelyn and Josephine (Titay); 2 brothers Cecil and Ding; sons-in-law James Ware and George Gankas and Raquel’s 20-year life partner Lee Thurmond; her 3 children’s father Herminio Asperas and many, many cousins, nephews, nieces and in-laws.
Services Information:
VIEWING - Friday Feb. 8 @ 5-9 pm, Rose Funeral Home Chapel, 4444 Cochran St., Simi Valley, CA 93063, (805) 581-3800.
FUNERAL MASS – Saturday Feb. 9 @ 10-11 am, St. Peter Claver Church, 2380 Stow St. (Corner of Cochran undefined Stow), Simi Valley, CA 93063.
RECEPTION – Saturday Feb 9 @ 11:30 – 2:30 pm THANK YOU RANDY undefined MARISSA. YOU ARE TRULY SPECIAL PEOPLE. I cannot thank you enough. Love, Lee