Our dad, Danilo Franco Bernabe, passed away suddenly, and it still doesn’t feel real. He was my younger sister Prescilla’s dad by blood, but he was also like a second dad to the rest of my siblings. I called him Dad because that’s exactly who he was in my life too. He showed up, taught me, and cared for me like his own. I’ve been lucky to have two amazing fathers; my Pops and my Dad… and we lost one of them last night..

Danilo was an electrical engineer with Verizon for over 30 years, where his intelligence and dedication earned him the respect of everyone around him. Earlier in his life, he even had the opportunity to work with NASA, a reflection of his brilliance and passion for engineering. Beyond his career, he was a gentle soul who found joy in simple things, especially his love for The Beatles. In a way that feels poetic, he passed wearing his favorite Beatles shirt.

For the last 16 years, our Dad fought a long and painful battle with what we all believed was Parkinson’s disease…. until just a year ago, when we learned it was Huntington’s disease. Watching him fight through that with strength, humor, and heart was both heartbreaking and inspiring. He never stopped trying, never stopped loving, and never stopped being “Dad.”

But what truly defined him wasn’t just his brilliance, it was his generosity. Even with his own challenges, our Dad always looked for ways to give back. He quietly donated to sponsor children in need, believing every child deserved a chance at a better life. That was who he was: selfless, kind, and full of faith.

Unfortunately, our dad did not have a will or life insurance, so all funeral and burial costs will have to be paid out of pocket. My family and I are creating this fundraiser to help cover funeral and burial costs, so we can fulfill his final wish: to be laid to rest beside his mother. This loss comes during an already difficult time.. my younger sister has been in and out of the hospital with ongoing health issues and recently lost her job due to her condition. Between medical bills and daily expenses, we’re struggling to give our dad our final farewell.

Any amount helps us give our dad the farewell he wanted and deserves. Every donation will go toward funeral and burial costs so we can lay him to rest beside his mom. If you can’t donate, sharing this or keeping our family in your prayers means the world to us.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your love, kindness, and support during this incredibly tragic time.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.