Lemuel Abenoja

Lemuel A. Abenoja, husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle to numerous nephews and nieces, passed away suddenly on Thursday morning, March 14, 2013. "Willie or Lem" as he was known to many, was born on Dec. 6, 1938 to Exequiel & Estefania Abenoja in MuA�oz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. Lemuel was the youngest among
11 siblings.

He attended the University of the Philippines Los BaA�os and graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. He worked with the International Rice Research Institute conducting trainings on ways of cultivating high-yielding upland rice production. In 1979, Lemuel, his wife and his four children immigrated to the United States and made their home in Watsonville, CA. His first jobs included cutting lettuce and cabbage along Highway 1. He worked as a janitor at the former Ford's Department store and Wells Fargo Bank on Main St. He also worked in an orchid nursery laboratory growing seedlings in bottles for mass orchid production. He eventually landed his permanent job with the California Highway Patrol as a maintenance worker and served in the CHP Aptos office for 25 years until his retirement in Dec. 2011.

Lemuel became a member of the Masonic fraternity in his late 20s and became a Master Mason while in the Philippines. He later studied to become a 32nd-degree Mason becoming a Shriner with the San Francisco Bodies of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.

Lemuel's demeanor was always happy. You knew he was around because he was always whistling a tune. He made us laugh with his silly jokes or if he wasn't telling a joke, he'd make you smile anyway because of his quirky facial expressions. He enjoyed watching boxing bouts, playing the ukulele and enjoyed sharing his collection of red wines with anyone who "was thirsty". He also loved playing Scrabble and taught his children to play. His best advice was "It's not the words you know but how you place your tiles".

He was an active member of the Watsonville First United Methodist Church and is being remembered by those who knew him as a jolly, humble, patient and generous man who always had a positive outlook in life.

He leaves behind his wife, Carmelita D. Abenoja, 4 children, Lowell G.D. Abenoja, Abigail A. Avitua, Mizpah Joy D. Abenoja, Reba D. Abenoja, his son-in-law, Harvey I. Avitua and one grandchild, Febe A. Avitua. He also leaves behind 3 siblings: Arturo A. Abenoja of Pampanga, Philippines, Lina A. Heim of Apeldoorn, Netherlands, and Febe A. Abenoja of Watsonville, CA.

Viewing will be held on Friday, March 22nd from 3pm to 9pm at Ave Maria Memorial Chapel, 609 Main St. in Watsonville. On Saturday, March 23rd, at Watsonville First United Methodist Church, there will be another viewing from 9am to 11am and a Christian service will follow at 11am. Interment will be held on Tuesday, March 26th at Pajaro Valley Memorial Park, 127 Hecker Pass Road in Watsonville.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you" (John 14: 27)