Click here to view the virtual Funeral Mass held for Prudente on June 20th, 2020

This is one of the hardest things I’ve had to write, because I didn’t want to accept that it is real. I still struggle now as I write this even after a few weeks later.

After almost a year-long battle with lung cancer, my hero……my dad, Prudente Rabaja, passed away on May 8th in Los Angeles, CA at 5:25am. Peacefully. As was his wish.

The exact time of his death is significant and touching for me.

If you knew my dad, he was an accountant by trade. There were 5 of us total in our family with my mom and siblings. 5:25am felt like an ode to us as a family and a little wink before he left using math. Like my mom, he liked to joke around, and he often used logic with his. At 5:25 am he was still joking til the very end.

Throughout his life, he was a very loving person, a role model and rock to many, showed inspirational strength and resilience, and was unrelentingly kind and joyful to everyone and anyone he interacted with.

He always had a smile on his face. Even when the Lakers lost.

He loved his family and friends dearly. As we also loved him in return. There will be a hole in our hearts that won’t ever be replaced.

Prudente was preceded by his loving wife, Pilar, and is survived by his three children: Mary Rose (Mae), George (Jay), and Janice. He is also survived by his loving brother, Wilson (Rabaja) in the Philippines; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and grandchildren; as well as a large circle of extended family and friends around the world whose lives he touched.

~~~~~

Click here to view the virtual Funeral Mass held for Prudente on June 20th, 2020

Unfortunately, an in-person memorial for obvious reasons is not possible.

Ironically, this is probably what my dad would have preferred anyway. He never liked the spotlight. Not that he was shy, but he preferred to enjoy life simply by living in the moment and not being the center of attention.

However, it would be remiss of us not to celebrate the life and legacy of a great man.

In the meantime, we are planning a virtual mass close to his 40^th day of passing. As we plan this virtual gathering and future events, we will post invites on this page. Remember to RSVP to help us plan accordingly.

A group in-person celebration/memorial of Prudente’s life will be planned for a later date (hopefully in a year during his first-year death anniversary) when things with COVID-19 have hopefully calmed down. One will be planned for both in Los Angeles and the Philippines.

Dates and times will be posted here, as well as any updates. Please check here first before contacting us as we may not be able to respond.

Both dates (40^th day and 1-year death anniversary) are significant for Filipino Catholics.