Obituaries

A Sweet Life

Herminia Mendioro Ayala was born on September 13, 1943 in Pagbilao, Quezon Philippines. She was born to Alfredo Isaac Mendioro and Leonila Glorioso Mendioro. She has seven brothers and four sisters: Alexander (deceased) , Alfredo Jr. (deceased), Archibald, Henrietta, Helen, Archimedes, Armenio, Esperanza, Leonila, Manolo (deceased) and Manuel (deceased).

In 1965, She graduated from Luzonian College receiving her Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education. In 1967, she was sponsored to teach at a Catholic elementary school in Cleveland, Ohio. While in Ohio, she lived an adventurous single life, visiting friends and enjoying driving around to different states.

In 1974, she married Benjamin Ayala in Manila. They moved to Jakarta, Indonesia while Benjamin completed work projects as an engineer. In 1976, they settled in Newark, California where she then started her career working as a bank teller at Bank of America. Here she would meet some of her lifelong friends.

In 1977, Herminia and Benjamin began their journey as parents. They welcomed three children, Jennifer Anne, Benjamin Jr. and Caroline Marie. In 1981, they tragically loss their only son in an accident. Through family support and prayers they continued to raise their two daughters in a loving and blessed home. Jennifer married Aniceto Bermillo Jr. and welcomed four children, Christopher (27), Jenivieve (25), Jaeden (24), Lea (19). Caroline married Jason Kawazoe and welcomed two children, Cayla (21) and JJ (17).

In the 1980’s, while Herminia was working at the bank, she enrolled in cake decorating classes and started making cakes out of her home. This was also a way for her to cope with the loss of her son. She established more customers and eventually decided to open Minia’s Bake Shop in 1989. She specialized in cakes for all occasions along with Filipino fast food and catering. She continued to work part time at the bank while managing the shop and balancing family life. For many years she made cakes for so many generations of families and all their special occasions. In 1998, the first Minia’s Bake Shop closed when the land was sold for housing. In 2006, Jennifer and Caroline opened the second Minia’s Bake Shop also in Newark. Until this day they continue to make cakes for new and past generations of families.

Herminia and Benjamin lived a full life spoiling their grandchildren, traveling together, and gardening the abundance of fruit trees in their backyard. After Benjamin’s passing in 2019, Herminia continued to live for her grandchildren, cooking their favorite dishes, attending their important milestones, and being present at their holy sacraments, highschool and college graduations.

Herminia was most known for her sweet personality, kindness, generosity, and hospitality. She loved to cook for others and was always welcoming to anyone that came to her. She was always willing to help someone in need, whether family, friend or stranger. Leading up to her passing, she was always surrounded by her family and celebrated every holiday, birthday and special occasion to the fullest. She lived a blessed, full life of 82 years.