Antonio O. Espiritu

ANTONIO ORTEGA ESPIRITU, aged 95 years, beloved husband for 54 years to Thelma (nee Mendoza), dear father of Eric (wife Stephanie), Jean (wife Maria) and Joel (wife Raylene), loving grandfather of Kyle, Mark, Sean, Lorenzo, Gabriela, Genevieve, Annelise, Ariana and Anthony, proud great-grandfather of Boo, devoted son of the late Hilario and Carmen (nee Ortega), cherished brother of Marita Reyes (Dr. Augusto) and the following all deceased: Eliseo (Maria-Lourdes), Gervasio (Rita), Hilario (Lena) and Rosario, fond uncle and great-uncle.

Antonio was born on February 23, 1928 in Manila, Philippines to Hilario Flor Espiritu and Carmen Pimentel Ortega, who both hailed from Laoag, Ilocos Norte. His mother had Spanish ancestry originating from Andalucia, Spain. He was the second to the eldest child (4 sons and 2 daughters).

TONY, to family and friends, grew up and lived for many years in Quiapo, Manila. He spent his grade school years at Victorino Mapa High School, one of the oldest public schools in Manila which produced a list of successful graduates in various fields since its foundation in 1923, like Arturo Tolentino, 9th Vice President of the Philippines and Senate President, Levi Celerio, Composer, lyricist and National Artist for Music and Literature, Rico J. Puno, Singer and Celebrity, Artemio Panganiban, former Supreme Court Justice, and Washington SyCip, Accountant and co-founder of SGV & Co. Accounting Firm. His secondary education was spent at San Beda College, Mendiola, Manila and earned his Business Management degree at the University of the East, Manila. The family eventually moved to Quezon City during the 1950’s.

During his bachelor years, he worked with Caltex Philippines, checking gasoline stations all over the country. He involved himself in religious organizations, like The Knights of Columbus, The Legion of Mary and the Bukas Loob sa Diyos (BLD) Covenant Community. He was active in church as Lay Minister, both in Manila and in Ohio.

TONY was known to be a very quiet person, humble, simple and very conservative as he and his siblings were raised with strict and rigid discipline, closely knit family, spending weekends dining out, strolling in parks together. Family reunions are looked forward to and enjoyed. He married late, at 41, to beautiful THELMA MENDOZA and bore three successful sons, ERIC JAMES, JEAN BERNARD and JOEL ANTHONY. They now have five grandsons, four granddaughters and one great grandson. In August 1988, they migrated and settled in their new home at South Euclid, Ohio.

As quiet as he had been, TONY went home to our Great Creator peacefully.

Mass of Christian Burial Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Gesu Catholic Church at 11 AM. Burial in All Saints Cemetery.

Family will receive friends to pay tribute and celebrate the life of Antonio at THE DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME OF SOUTH EUCLID, 4600 MAYFIELD RD. (just East of Green Rd.) FRIDAY, MAY 19, FROM 4-8 PM.

Prayer Service

Tribute Service