Benjamin Panado

Benjamin Panado Resident of Concord Benjamin R. Panado was born in the Philippines on June 16, 1910 and was called by the Lord on February 16, 2009. He was the 2nd of 10 children. He immigrated to the United States at the young age of 18 by joining the Navy. He was very proud of his service in the military. He had vivid and detailed memories of his experiences which he gladly shared with his family. After his Navy service, he met and married Natividad Cartahena in 1952, and had two sons, Michael and Dennis. He did his best to provide for the family and kept his wife at home so that the two boys were taken care of and raised well. He supplemented his Pacific Bell income by performing gardening work on other people's yards. He was an avid fisherman, gardener and a great cook especially during holidays. He and his wife "Naty" did their very best to send their 2 boys to school and earn their college degrees. Ben always had a smile for everyone, was very sociable and he could talk to anyone about anything. Living in Los Angeles, he was an avid Dodger and Laker fan. He would listen to small transistor radios in their Los Angeles backyard while tending to his flower and vegetable garden. He was the hardest working person you'll ever meet. His motto was, "Busy hands are happy hands." To be closer to the family, Ben and Naty moved to Concord, CA in 1992. He was a devoted husband and father, a wonderful Grandpa to Cheryl, Christopher and Jonathan and a loving father-in-law to Helene and Tita. Ben's personable disposition made him a favorite amongst his family. He was called Uncle Madong here, and back home in the Philippines. He left his home over 80 years ago but his spirit lives on through his family. He is survived by his wife Naty; sons, Michael and Dennis; grandchildren, Cheryl, Christopher and Jonathan; daughters-in-law, Helene and Tita; 4 brothers, Rodecindo, Leo, Fulgencio, Nestorio; 3 sisters, Eliza, Martha, Dominica; and numerous nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed by his family and the multitude of friends whom he touched during his lifetime. Memorial services will be held on Sunday February 22, 2009 at the Funeral Home at Cypress Lawn, 1370 El Camino Real, Colma, CA 94014. Visitation will be from 11am to 1pm with the memorial service at 1pm.