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Asterio Damasco Quitoriano was born to Pascual and Leona Quitoriano on August 25, 1918 in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines and passed away peacefully at home with his family at his side on March 5, 2015 at the age of 96. Asterio served in the United States Army during WWII. After the fall of the Bataan Peninsula on April 9, 1942, when the U.S. surrendered to the Japanese on the main Philippine island of Luzon at the beginning of World War II, approximately 75,000 Filipino and American troops were forced to make an arduous 65-mile march to prison camps. The marchers made the trek in intense heat and were subjected to harsh treatment by the Japanese guards. Thousands perished in what became known as the Bataan Death March. Asterio was a valiant survivor of this infamous atrocity. For his service, Asterio Quitoriano was awarded the WWII Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Service Star, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Medal with one Bronze Service Star, Philippine Defense Ribbon with one Bronze Service Star, and the American Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star. Upon completion of his military service he married his first wife, Alejandria Quitoriano. In 1958, Asterio immigrated to the United States to help his brother with his strawberry farm. To support his family in the Philippines, he took a job as a typewriter mechanic at the Fresno Office Machine Company during the week, and on his days off he worked at the local farms picking grapes. On July 14, 1964, he finally was reunited with his wife and their six children. Asterio was a former member of the Legionarios Del Trabajo in America - Worshipful Anchor Lodge No. 626. Mr. Quitoriano is preceded in death by his first wife, Alejandria Quitoriano; his son Roy Quitoriano; his siblings, Mike Quitoriano, Candelario "Larry" Quitoriano, and Maximina Quiris. Asterio is survived by his wife, Amparo Quitoriano; his children Lydia Asistin and her husband Albert, Leona Marquez and her husband Severino, Cynthia Orpilla and her husband George, Roy's wife Izusu, Nick Quitoriano and his wife Gloria, and Cesar Quitoriano and his wife Liza; an adopted daughter, Sheila Q. Sterie and her husband George; 13 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. He also leaves his half-siblings Florencio Quitoriano, Francisco Quitoriano, Panfilo Quitoriano, Lina Q. Ragsac, Norma Q. Lazo and Benigno Quitoriano and a host of extended family members and friends. Visitation will be held at Chapel of the Light Funeral Home on Thursday, March 12, 2015 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Friday, March 13, 2014 from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A Vigil Service will be held at Chapel of the Light on Friday, March 13, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. John's Cathedral on Saturday, March 14, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Fresno Memorial Gardens.

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Asterio Damasco Quitoriano

August 25, 1918 - March 5, 2015