In Loving Memory: Leon J. ‘Jun’ Aureus Jr.

In Loving Memory: Leon J. ‘Jun’ Aureus Jr.

It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of Leon J. Aureus Jr. on Tuesday, May 14th, 2024 at the age of 76. Loving husband of over 50 years to Adelle, devoted father to Leon Jr. II (Isabela), Philomena (✝), Angelica (Ryan), and Vanessa (Mano), and Super Lolo to Melia, Madelynne, Adam, Emmanuel, Brandon Leon, Leon Victor and Anders Noel.

He was born July 29, 1947 in Libmanan, Camarines Sur, located in the central part of the Bicol Province that is part of Luzon Island in the Philippines. Known by many as Junior (or Jun), he was named after his father, Leon Sa. Aureus, a prominent leader in the Philippines who organized the Tangcong Vaca Guerilla Unit in Bicol during World War II, held office as Naga City’s first Mayor following the war, and was the founder of the Bicol Mail newspaper. Junior’s mother, Angeles was a leader and a warrior in her own right. She had to raise a family of 8 eight children, that included Vicente (✝), Pacita, Leonor, Eufemia, Leon Jr., Jose, Corazon and Virgil on her own, following the early passing of Leon Sr.

It is from his parents, whom he honoured and loved very much, that the foundation of Junior’s core principles of hard work, integrity, courage, service for others, and love of country was formed.

The song “My Way” is infamous in Filipino society and the favorite of every Tito on the karaoke mic. But the lyrics of this song that Junior often sang wholeheartedly truly embodied who he was because it is how he lived –

“To say the things he truly feels / And not the words of one who kneels.”

However, what completed this fine man and made him uniquely Junior, was that those core principles were led by the loving, gentle and generous heart of a man who cared for everyone around him. These were traits that some would say would make a fine priest, and there was a brief moment in time when he contemplated this vocation. However, one day he walked into the Bicol Mail office and met the newly hired receptionist: Adelle Brendia, the most beautiful woman in Naga City (if not the world) and there could be no other choice, his fate was cast.

The two married and started a young family in Manila where Leon was managing the printing press associated with the family newspaper that had now expanded to offer a magazine format. Junior worked hard and hustled for whatever additional printing jobs he could get in the big city in order to put food on the table for his family. However, due to the unjust and insidious cloud of Martial Law that hung over the country, filling it with political and social unrest, Junior had to make a difficult decision. As much as he loved the Philippines, he loved his family more. He and his wife decided that their children would be safer, would have greater opportunities if they moved to Canada.

Moving to Toronto in 1978, Junior’s classic and inspiring immigrant story began. Starting again in a new country, with very little money to his name, he worked tirelessly on alternating day/night shifts in a sewage plant, using every spare moment he had to study computer programming so that he could improve his family’s prospects. He ignored his co-workers who teased him for working so hard, yet by the time of his retirement, he had moved his way up to become a Lead Systems Analyst for the Ministry of the Environment.

As much as he threw himself into his work, he devoted himself to his family all the more – driving them to piano lessons, Hawaiian dance classes, tae kwon do tournaments, sometimes napping in the car to catch up on sleep but more often cheering his children on from the audience or sidelines. He continuously bought books, various sets of encyclopedias for the family to instill the importance of education and knowledge combined with the Christian values taught to him by his Jesuit professors at the Ateneo de Naga where he had studied.

“God gave you a brain to think! Make your own decision! Use your initiative!” were words his children and grandchildren will forever remember him for.

In fact there are many sayings he will be remembered for. Despite claiming to never be an intellectual or a writer, he was a deeply thoughtful and philosophical man. Just a few more of his classics, some passionately serious, others goofy true to how funny he could also be:

“I have to tell the truth! It’s not right!”

“Stop your mañana system! Do it now!”

“Memories! It’s important to make beautiful memories!”

“You’re not yellow. You’re Golden.”

“(I fart because) I am Alive!”

“The Lord will provide.”

“Who cares about material things? We must always share what we have.”

Junior will also be dearly remembered as Papa Jun and Kumpadre Jun because he opened his heart and home to his entire extended family, his many many friends and to his community. He always wanted to bring people together. The Aureus home was often the gathering place for many joyous celebrations filled with food, singing, dancing and swimming in his beloved backyard pool. There were always extra place settings at the table or spare rooms (even displacing his own kids on occasion from their bedrooms) being used by family or friends, sometimes veritable strangers who might stay several evenings or even several years. It didn’t matter, if he could help, he would, without expectation of remuneration or even kindness in return.

He also devoted himself to many Filipino-Canadian community organizations such as the Katipunan Ng Bagong Pilipino; Bicol Canada Community Association, but perhaps most dear to his heart was his work with the Ateneo Alumni Association Canada where he worked passionately to raise funds to pay for the education and also feed poor students in the Philippines.

It’s impossible to comprehend that this wonderful man, this beautiful spirit is no longer with us today. That he will no longer be two hours early to attend every event of every one of his beloved grandchildren, that he won’t be going on daily walks with his beloved wife at Costco or Square One. But that’s only in the physical, material sense. His memory remains. His spirit remains. May the lessons he shared and the love he showed all of us stay with each of us.

“I’m just a simple man,” you would often say to deflect humbly. But let us give you the credit for being more than a simple man. You have inspired and helped so many. You are a great man.

Thank you Leon Javier Aureus Jr.

Junior

Jun

Kumpadre

Papa

Lolo

Okay, ‘Nior/Dad/Lolo – please sing the last song for us.

“You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains…”

[ Written by his son, Leon B. Aureus ]