Candice Rubio Hansen

On February 10, 2020, Candice Marie Rubio Hansen, 39, received her wings and went to walk with the angels after multiple valiant battles against cancer. She resided in Huntington Beach, CA and passed away peacefully at Keck Hospital at USC in Los Angeles.

Candice was born on October 14, 1980 in Long Beach, the daughter of Reynaldo Rubio and Amelia Lumbres Rubio. She has one older brother, Ramel Joseph Rubio. She grew up in Anaheim and attended St. Irenaeus Catholic Elementary School and St. Joseph High School.

Candice met the love of her life, Brian Hansen, while attending University of California, Irvine (UCI), where she studied Biology. Brian and Candice knew their souls were connected from the beginning of their relationship. They found out that while they were meeting for what they assumed was the first time in "chemistry" class their lives have been orbiting each other since they were born. Brian and Candice grew up in homes less than one mile from each other and were born 44 days apart. Brian's mom would bring him to Mercury Savings bank in Anaheim when he was elementary school age and that happened to be the same bank Amelia Rubio worked as a teller and would often have her daughter Candice visiting in the lobby. Candice and Brian both took tennis lessons at Cypress College the same summer. Brian's childhood friend Bryan Krieger would go on to St. Irenaeus where he would become classmates with Candice. And finally Ramel (Candice's brother) and Brian were tennis partners at Western High School. They were soulmates always destined to be together and after they grew the foundation of their relationship through their college years their love would spring in the summer of 2005.

Candice was always passionate about finding cures to human ailments and spent her career at pharmaceutical companies, including B Braun Medical Inc., Meyer Pharmaceuticals, and Allergan. She worked at Allergan for 12 years and held multiple positions within the company, culminating in Scientist, where she conducted critical studies to support regulatory submissions for Allergan's first therapy for Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Candice conducted the key experiments to demonstrate the duration of effect of our long-lasting drug candidate for retinal diseases. Candice was an expert in ophthalmic exams and tested the safety of multiple drug candidates to support clinical and pre-clinical programs in glaucoma and retinal disease. She was sought after by many of her colleagues to help in this capacity and often came up with new ideas and ways to improve outcomes. Candice loved helping others, she always said yes to anyone who seek her help and expertise, she would do it as usual with a big heart and a huge smile, "the Candice way" that we will all remember and aspire to emulate.

Candice had many joys in her life, including her family, cooking, running, and traveling. Her family was the center of her life, and she was always present at all family gatherings to celebrate everyone's special moments. Inspired by Giada, she also loved to try new recipes and enjoyed preparing delicious new meals for her family. She also enjoyed sports and was an avid runner, completing 5 half-marathons. Lastly, she cherished new experiences during her travels, including her most recent family trips to Hawaii and Niagara Falls.

Candice was a source of light, joy, and love to all who met her. She genuinely cared about everyone and went out of her way to make them feel special through getting them a thoughtful gift or providing much-needed support. She approached the world with wonder and delight, and appreciated all of God's blessings, big and small. She loved to play, make jokes, and laugh, blessing everyone with her infectious energy. Her beautiful smile would light up a room. Even during her battle with cancer, she continued to be a wellspring of joy, courage,and faith.

She is survived by her husband of 11 years, Brian, and their three young children, Luke, Jake, and Isabelle. Candice loved her children more than life itself and would do anything for them. They were her miracles from God and there nothing that made her happier than being their mother. She was the perfect mother for her children.

Candice was beloved by all and has left a lasting legacy that will continue to live on in all our hearts.

Candice had never seen fireflies until she saw them.god was making Candice have the best life. [FROM JAKE <3]