On March 14, 2026, my family experienced the loss of my wife's mother, Peggy Abanilla. Peggy was a loving mother, grandmother, and widow of Navy veteran Rolando Abanilla, who served on the USS New Jersey (BB-62) as part of the Blue Water Navy. Rolando passed away in 2008, and Peggy has carried his memory with her ever since. Her wish was to be reunited with her husband, her hero, and her sailor, so that together they could rest in peace.

With Peggy's passing, we are faced with the challenge of honoring her final wishes. The funeral home in El Paso, Texas, will help prepare Peggy for her journey, and we have arranged for her to be flown to Riverside, California, where she will be laid to rest with Rolando. The costs for the funeral homes, transportation, and services are significant, and we want to ensure Peggy receives the farewell she deserves.

We are reaching out to friends, family, and anyone who feels moved by Peggy's story to ask for support. Now that Peggy has passed on, we know she is with Rolando—together again, their love crossing worlds and time. Death is not the end of a journey, but a passage to our loved ones who watch over us. Any help you can offer will mean so much to our family as we honor Peggy's memory and fulfill her final wish.