last night we received the worst news any child could get about their parent. “We have your dad in our emergency department, how soon can you get here”. Our hearts sank knowing it was a chaplain on the other end of that phone call. All of us shocked and heartbroken with the sudden unexpected passing of our Apa. Mi apa Joel was the Pilar of our family, when our mom got sick, he stepped up and raised 5 kids on his own, without complaint and did it proudly. He did the best he could raising us and he did a damn good job at it. He was selfless and always there to offer a helping hand whenever anyone needed it. He was strong and he was resilient. The hardest working man we’ve known. He just celebrated his 68th birthday. So full of life, always on the go and ready for the next thing to happen. He never bothered anyone, even if he was hurting, he’d never let us know. Our hearts are shattered into a million pieces, and we don’t know how to move on from such a tremendous loss. We don’t know a life without our Apa. How do we live without him?? Our only solace is knowing he is now reunited with his eldest son, together again for the rest of eternity, without pain or sickness. Lo amamos apa. Siempre estará en nuestros pensamientos y corazones. Sus hijos y sus nietos lo aman con toda nuestra alma.

if you find it in your heart to donate to his funeral costs, a huge thank you from the Arellano family to you.