Aurora Oropilla Agatep

1928 - 2022

July 5, 1928 - December 1, 2022 Aurora Oropilla Agatep, 94, of Pasadena, California, passed away peacefully on December 1, 2022.

Aurora was born the 4th of eight children to parents Jose Oropilla and Maria Fortich on July 5, 1928 in the small town of Sison, province of Pangasinan, Philippines. She grew up with a large family: six brothers-Conrado, Ricardo, Alfonso, Salvador, Napoleon and Quintin; and one sister-Josefina.

As a teenager, she survived the hardships of World War II which delayed her education. In 1952, she graduated with Honors from the University of the Philippines, obtaining her Bachelor of Science in Biology. In 1956, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Education, from University of Pangasinan.

While in college, Aurora met and then married Candido Agatep in 1955. Five months later, Candido travelled to the United States to seek opportunities for the two of them. In 1957, with money Candido had saved, Aurora joined him in Los Angeles.

Aurora cherished both family and career. After having two children in two years, Aurora enrolled at the University of Southern California and graduated in 1960 with a Master of Science Degree in Biology, accepting a research position that year at Caltech with a focus on plant growth hormones.

While always speaking fondly of her research, Aurora turned her talents towards teaching. In 1968, she began her new career with the Norwalk-La Mirada School District at Reginald M. Benton Middle School. She transferred to William N. Neff High School in 1979, then to John Glenn High School in 1981 where she remained happily for the remainder of her career.

During her 38 years of teaching, Aurora's teaching skills were recognized and awarded many times. Her most memorable award was one of national recognition at Dodger Stadium for Teacher Appreciation Day, in 1996, to which she proudly wore her John Glenn High School sweatshirt. She was a much loved teacher-adviser to the Asian and Pacific Islander Club, helping tirelessly with fundraising, mentoring and supporting teenage students through personal struggles.

To the dismay of her students, faculty and the principal at John Glenn High School, Aurora retired from her notable career, at age 78. Retirement allowed her time to spend with her grandchildren, tend her garden, travel with her husband and enjoy her hobbies of needlepoint and crochet. Her beautiful crocheted tablecloths were prized gifts for family, friends and churches in the Philippines. In addition, Aurora together with Candido established the Agatep-Oropilla Foundation, a nonprofit organization to promote education within the poorer and more remote regions of the Philippines.

Aurora is survived by daughter Angeli (spouse Malcolm), sons Clarence (spouse Grace) and Arthur (partner Claire); and grandchildren Zoe, Bowen, Mason, Quinn, Phillip, and Elisa. She was predeceased by her son, Patrick in 1965 and by her beloved husband Candido, in September, 2022.

-Visitation will be Dec. 21 at Forest Lawn Main Mortuary Building, 1712 S. Glendale Ave., 2nd Floor, Room #6, Glendale, from 10:00AM-2:00PM.?
-A funeral mass will occur Dec. 21 at Cristo Rey Catholic Church, 4343 Perlita Ave., Los Angeles, at 1:00PM, followed by internment at Forest Lawn Glendale.

To honor Aurora's focus on helping students achieve their full potential, the family requests that in lieu of flowers or gifts, please donate monies to or volunteer at your local public school.