Doris Pepito Mendoza

Doris Pepito Mendoza, 45, born on February 3, 1976, in Manila, Philippines, passed away November 18, 2021. She resided in Long Beach, CA at the time of her passing. Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Long Beach, California.




Doris caught the travel bug from her father. She loved traveling and started her journey from Manila to Cebu and then to America. It was in Cebu that she met her husband and high school sweetheart whom she later married. Shortly after, she moved to America and created her bucket list. As her sister joined the military, Doris was able to explore different states as she visited those places along with her parents and her family. She started with Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Florida and New York. Her dream was to make it to Hawaii and the city of Paris.




Despite her love to travel to places, Doris often came back to the Philippines. She was known and loved there by family and friends. She was a generous soul and a very kind woman. She often would make those she loved special by giving thoughtful gifts or just by being there for them. She would give even when she didn't have enough. She was rich not of material things, but of people who loved and cared about her.




If there was anything Doris was known for, it was her love for food. She was a true foodie who dragged her beloved children, sister, husband, parents and friends to known popular food sites as she checked off her foodie bucket list and posted on her social media. The only thing that stopped her from her love of traveling and food was the pain caused by her cancer. Even in the early stages of her diagnosis, Doris continued to check off as many items on her bucket list. When she couldn't travel and enjoy food, she made sure her children got to explore even when it meant she would be watching their explorations on her phone.




Her best friends or "Barkadas" made sure to bring the parties to her when she couldn't go to them. Doris loved them as much as they loved her. She was very appreciative and happy whenever that happened. She often talked about them and was very grateful of everything they have done for her. They were always there for her and carried her through her cancer journey. She had this glow when she was around them as she could be carefree, fun loving, and young again. They have been friends since she moved here and started off working in the same spot. Her best friend, Miriam, even took her in during the height of the COVID pandemic while her other friends took her to her chemo appointments.




Doris was a hard worker and very dedicated to her job. She worked at Farmers and Merchants Bank for 24 years. She met so many friends in different branches, often the funniest person in their circles. She was known as a prankster and for her love of potlucks. She always loved their annual Christmas party as she got to dress up and just be fancy with her beloved coworkers and dance the night away or just giggle through dinner.




Doris was a very loving wife. Her love story was quite spectacular. They started their fairytale in the Philippines and continued in America. It was long distance at first, but she knew he was the one the moment they met in high school. Doris and Jonathan were a perfect pair. They balanced each other and supported each other. She loved him so much that her children look like his carbon copies. She was his "Maldita" and he was her "Bugoy".




Doris was very proud of her children. You can see it all over her Facebook and Instagram. Her life was about her family and her ambition was to make sure her kids are taken care of even when she wasn't around. She loved them dearly and would give up anything for them to be happy. Her children were her prized possessions. There was nothing she wouldn't do for her children, Justine, Jordan and Dominique. Despite being scared of hospitals and medical procedures, she endured them all to get more time with her children. Her biggest fear was not being able to see them grow up and see her grandchildren. They gave her strength to keep fighting even when she was suffering. They loved her so much as well and often spent time with her. Justine was her personal nurse and her other two were her cheerleaders.



Her loving nature extended to her niece, Hannah and nephew, Nathan. Doris loved them like her children. When her sister wasn't able to take them to places, she included them in their travels and were also very proud of them. Doris also loved her godchildren. She had a list of them on her cellphone and their birthdays so she would never forget about their big days.



Doris loved parties. She was often the one recording the videos of the food and also the dancing at all the Barnum parties. You would not see her in many photos as she was the one behind the camera. She captured so many good memories through her FB live. You could hear her laughing in the background while taking photos and videos of her fun loving aunts, uncles and cousins. She loved watching people be happy and ensured those moments were captured. She did this as well in the Philippines with her Pepito family and friends.



Doris was a great supporter to her sister since her sister's diagnosis of breast cancer. She made sure that her sister, Ruth, was always part of their family travels and gatherings. If her sister couldn't make it, she brought the party to her. She didn't know that being a part of her sister's cancer journey would prepare her for her own cancer journey. As her sister progressed to Stage 4, Doris was also diagnosed eight months after of Stage 4 Small Bowel Cancer. She thought her sister was a strong woman without noticing that she had become the epitome of a Wonder Woman. As they drew strength from each other, they also grew closer than ever, often trying to share hopeful stories and holding on to their faith to be able to have more time with their loved ones.




Doris was a devoted daughter. She never left her parents' sides. As the eldest daughter, she took on the responsibility to watch out for the family. She was always so thoughtful of her parents and often ensured they got to travel everywhere. Doris was very proud of her father, Doming, who did several contract jobs abroad to support his family. She was also very proud of her mom, Babie, going through school at a later age while still taking care of her family. Doris was the glue that bound them together. Her last words to her sister was to take care of her parents.




Doris passed away peacefully at College Medical Center, fighting until the end to say goodbye and receive her last rites. As a devoted Catholic, she never faltered at her faith that God is in control. She was surrounded by her family and friends singing to her as she loved music and karaoke.




Doris is survived by her parents, Dominador and Dominadora Pepito; her husband, Jonathan Mendoza; her children, Justine, Jordan and Dominique; her sister, Ruth Pepito; brother-in-law, Jason Kim; niece, Hannah; nephew, Nathan; pet dog, Nicky; pet cat, Twixie; and pet dog niece, Stella; plus her forever barkadas, coworkers, relatives on both the Barnum and Pepito side, and her former classmates and friends in the Philippines.




Please check out the details below for her viewing and funeral service. Her visitation or viewing is at the Mission Room at Cherry Avenue. Please use that entrance. Her funeral is at the Forest Lawn Chapel. For the viewing and funeral, we ask that all black attire not be worn. For the viewing, we are keeping the purple theme so any shades of purple will be appreciated but not mandated. For the funeral, we asked that people wear white tops or any white that has some purple shade. Purple was her favorite color so we encourage some purple mixed in with white as this is the celebration of her life.




Doris was a kind and gentle soul. She will be forever missed. If you ever see anything purple, please think of her and know she is with you. A life so beautifully lived and a heart so deeply loved.