Sergio Serge Gonzales Jaramillo

Sergio Jaramillo also known as “Serge”, 65, of Milpitas, California died peacefully surrounded by his family and friends on Friday, the 26th of October 2012 at Regional Medical Center of San Jose after two years of “fighting the good fight” against stage IV gallbladder cancer.

He was born on the 7th of October 1947 in Santo Domingo, Ilocos Sur Philippines to Alejandro and Alfreda Jaramillo. He was the second of five children: Luz, Meno, Feliza, and Vic. Raised by the farming hands of his father, he learned to be industrious, hard-working, and appreciative of nature. He studied at the University of the Philippines Los Banos Department of Forestry & Agriculture as well as Business and Commerce at Divine Mercy College of Vigan. His listening skills and genuine nature allowed him to become a successful business leader for San Miguel Corporation and later Pepsi Cola. In memory of his mother whom he lost at an early age, he carried a picture of Mary, the Blessed Mother of Jesus in his wallet as his devotion to the Holy Mary and the unique role of women as mothers. In 1978, he celebrated marriage and vowed to love and cherish his wife Dorie Sito Jaramillo. In 1987 Sergio, his wife and two children immigrated to the United States to pursue new hopes, dreams, and a bright future for his family. Welcomed by the challenges of unfamiliar new land, he adopted a positive attitude and humbled himself to work the frontlines of various gasoline stations and then later the assembly lines of semiconductor companies. When he retired in 2009, even without a technical degree, he retired as the lead supervising technician for the main hybrid lab at the headquarters of Maxim Integrated Products. Unselfishly, he directed all of his meager earnings to provide a private Catholic school education for his two children.

The works of Sergio’s hands tell his life story which was full of simplicity, love, charm and grace. He cooked passionately and prepared delicious meals to establish bonds and share quality time with his family and friends. In his arms he cradled his own children, grand-daughter, nephews, nieces, and godchildren. He showed his creative spirit in his art work, pencil drawings, and the various things he built, (backyard kitchen, an orchidarium for his wife, an “andador” or walker for his grand-daughter) he cultivated, (vegetable and flower gardens), and enjoyed repairing whatever was broken (cars, furniture, etc). He carried the microphone singing songs of praise in church as well as karaoke at home parties. He held pen to paper solving crossword puzzles and analyzing current events in the news. He prayed with faith, and he blessed others with kindness.

Sergio was an extremely self-less, devoted, and loving father, husband, and grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Dorie of 34 years, son Karlo Jaramillo, daughter Kaye Jaramillo-Villanueva, son-in-law Jojo Villanueva, and his precious granddaughter Charlise J. Villanueva. He is survived by his siblings and their families: Luz Custodio, Feliza Tom, and Vic Jaramillo. He is also survived by a large extended family located all over the globe. He was a great friend to many with his honest sense of humor, practical wisdom from a lifetime of experiences, and his ability to encourage and motivate the people he cared for to work on accomplishing their personal best.