Ignacio Palomo

Ignacio Palomo, 83, born on September 29, 1942, in Agat, Guam, passed away August 11, 2026. He resided in Long Beach, CA at the time of his passing. Arrangements are under the care of Forest Lawn, Long Beach, CA.

Eulogy for Ignacio Palomo

Read by Catherine Duenas, child of Ignacio Palomo

Good afternoon, everyone.

Thank you all for being here today to celebrate the life of my dad, Ignacio Jesus Palomo. It is

both an honor and a privilege to share a few words about a man who meant so much to so many

people.

Today, we gather not only to mourn our loss, but also to remember, honor, and celebrate the

wonderful life he lived.

My dad was born on September 29, 1942, in Guam. At the age of 24, he was sworn into the

United States Army and proudly served his country during the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1970.

After returning home, he settled in Long Beach, California, where he would eventually meet my

mom. A few years later, they were married on June 6, 1981, in a beautiful wedding surrounded

by family and loved ones.

Some of my fondest memories of my dad come from my childhood. On weekends, we had our

routine chores together. We'd mow the lawn, rake the leaves and grass, and then wash both the

red Conquest and the brown Oldsmobile. Looking back, those simple moments meant so much

more than I realized at the time.

And if I didn't want to eat what my mom had cooked, Dad would put on his shoes and take me to

McDonald's. At least once a week, he would also take me to get Thrifty ice cream, which is still

my favorite to this day. Those little acts of love are memories I will cherish forever.

In 1989, when I was 13 years old, my parents divorced. Years later, Dad found love again and

married Teresita. After her passing, something truly special happened. In 2017, my parents

rekindled their love for one another and were remarried on December 17, 2017.

By then, I was 43 years old. We may have lost many years together, but we certainly made up for

lost time. During those years apart, not a single day went by that I didn't think about my dad.

Having him back in my life was one of the greatest blessings I could have ever received.

As an adult, some of my fondest memories are of the love he showed my mom and me. He was

always there with advice, especially when it came to planning for the future. He constantly

reminded me to save a little from every paycheck so I would be secure later in life. And I will

especially miss how he almost always took my side whenever my mom or my husband, Jr.,

disagreed with me. That was just Dad.

What started as a family of three, my mom, my dad, and me, grew into a larger, beautiful family

that included a son-in-law, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Dad loved every

one of us dearly.

I will also miss celebrating our birthdays together. Our birthdays were only three days apart, and

over the years we shared many special celebrations that I will always treasure.

Family meant everything to my dad. He loved his siblings with all his heart. In his later years,

when only he and his brother Mateo remained, they always made sure to stay connected. Even if

it was only for a minute, they would call each other just to check in and say hello.

One thing I will always admire about my father was the love and devotion he showed my

mother. He demonstrated what it means to be a husband who puts his family first. He often said,

"I want my wife to have whatever she wants." He worked hard his entire life, planned wisely,

and made sure he could retire comfortably. Yet despite all he accomplished, he remained a

simple man. He never cared much for luxury or material things. What mattered most to him was

being happy and surrounded by the people he loved.

We were truly blessed to have him in our lives. His love, wisdom, valuable lessons, and the

countless memories he created will continue to live on through all of us.

While we feel the deep pain of losing him, we are grateful for the time we shared. We will carry

his memory in our hearts and honor him by living with the same kindness, generosity,

dedication, and love that he demonstrated every day.

Dad, thank you for everything. We love you, we miss you, and we will carry you with us always.

Until we meet again, rest in peace.