Angelina Versales Orozco

Angelina Versales Orozco (Mama) was born on October 2, 1925 to Higino Versales (Tatay Hino) and Eufrocina Ignacio (Nanay Sinang). The Orozco family, comprising her parents, five sisters and two brothers, lived in a modest home in Sampaloc, Metro Manila and led a very humble lifestyle.

From an early age, Mama cultivated an exceptional work ethic which remained a guiding force throughout her life. At 16, during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II, she and her older sister pursued daily jobs with the Japanese military to attain the necessary rations to sustain her family. These tasks included removing the rust off ammunition for the Japanese army, selling cigarettes to Japanese soldiers, and separating coconut husks to be used as filler in upholstered seats for Toyota military vehicles. But it was her proficiency as a stenographer that secured her a job as an inventory staff specialist at the corporation where she managed and organized their parts database. This job paid well at three pesos an hour and two cups of rice per day. She became the family’s sole breadwinner and primary caretaker, a role she would continue to embrace for the rest of her life.

At 19, she caught the attention of Enrique Martinez Orozco (Papa), a United States Navy radio operator five years her senior. Despite multiple suitors vying for her affection, Mama succumbed to Papa's persistence and irresistible charm. Their whirlwind romance led to an elopement after just eight months of courtship, marking the beginning of their incredible adventure together. They started their family with the birth of their first daughter, Maria Corazon (Chola), and expanded rapidly, welcoming a new child nearly every year, ultimately having four daughters and three sons. In 1965, they relocated to their new home they designed and built themselves.

In the late 1970s, with political upheaval brewing in the Philippines, Mama’s children began their migration to the United States. To support her children and their families during this pivotal time, Mama became the sole caretaker of her grandchildren during their formative years - cooking meals, washing clothes, and simply attending to them while their parents established themselves as immigrants in a new country. She and Papa eventually accompanied them to join their parents in the United States.

In 1991, Papa passed away when Mama was 65. It is a blessing that Mama would live another third of her life as a widow and matriarch, wholeheartedly caring for her growing family, remaining a constant presence in her children’s and grandchildren’s lives. She traveled to the West and East coasts of the United States as well as the Philippines, offering her unwavering support wherever it was needed. Mama had a substantial influence in raising all 24 of her grandchildren, evident in the deep devotion they hold for her.

When it was certain that her family was secure, Mama could finally enjoy some leisure time which she filled with frequent visits to her favorite casinos for some slot machine action and long, overnight sessions of mahjong with her daughters and close family friends. It was a marvel to watch her play…so sharp, decisive, and quick, even in the last weeks of her life.

Mama delighted in cooking for her family including favorite dishes such as sinigang, nilaga, adobo and afritada. During the holidays, she would prepare her showcase dessert, puto bumbong. A labor of love, the treat vanished the moment it was laid on a bed of banana leaves and topped with melting butter and freshly grated coconut. The dessert holds a unique place in the family’s memory, impossible to replicate, and any future taste of it will certainly evoke cherished moments with Mama.

In her final days, Mama was surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who gathered by her bedside sharing their favorite moments and telling her how much she meant to them. Mama created a lasting legacy of family first – sustaining them with unconditional love and support in her 98 years as the heart and soul of the Orozco family. She is survived by her daughters Chola, Carmen, Susan, and Philma, and her sons Butch, Junior, and Willie, her 24 grandchildren, and her 36 great-grandchildren who are eternally grateful for the love that they received from their amazing matriarch. They will forever miss, remember, and honor their beloved Mama.

Visiting hours for Angelina will be from 4-7pm on Friday, January 5, 2024 and a memory sharing period will follow from 7-8pm at Palm Southwest Mortuary. A funeral mass will begin at 11am on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 1111 Michael Way, Las, Nevada.