Funeral Costs for Gilbert V. Peña

Hello, my name is Judith Peña, daughter of Gilbert Peña.

This is so difficult for me to write right now.

My dad has had health challenges for the past five years. We all assumed it was under control, and that our dad knew his body well enough to go to the hospital if he needed to.  

My dad passed away unexpectedly in the very early morning of February 15, 2024. He told his wife and soulmate, Rebecca, that he wasn’t feeling well. She suggested he go to the hospital, so she left to bring the car closer so he wouldn’t have to walk far. By the time she returned, my dad was gone. It happened in the blink of an eye.

 I will not go into detail about my father’s health as that is a private and sensitive topic. But I will make it known that he passed from natural causes of a health condition. 

My dad was loved by so many people. He lit up the room and it was never a dull moment with him around. He had the gift of gab and could talk to anyone. Life is a little less bright now that he’s gone.

My dad always put family first. His family was the most important part in his life and he always bragged about how many children and grandchildren he had. He loved all 8 of his children, his 9 grandchildren, and 6 step-grand children.

I thank the Lord for allowing us the time we had with my father, Gilbert. I rest in knowing my father was a believer of Christ, who prayed daily and read his Bible often. I thank you Jesus for allowing my father to know You before taking him home.

Life will not be easy from now on. I lost my daddy, my protector, and my best friend. I am trying to stay strong because I know he would want me to. I feel reassured in the fact that I will see my father again in the next life, because we as believers are promised eternal life through Jesus Christ.

I will end with words my father used to say often, “Thank you, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

Rest in Peace, my Daddy. I will see you again soon.

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.

And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord."

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 ESV