Dionisio L Peralta

Dionisio L. Peralta Memorial Service and Burial

Monday, June 9 at 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Rose Hills Memorial Park, Memorial Chapel

The Peralta Family would like to invite you in person and in prayer as we say goodbye to a loving, caring, brave, strong, honest, upright and God-fearing man.

Memorial service will begin promptly at 9 AM at the Memorial Chapel, Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California , followed immediately by a gravesite service and burial at 10:15. We will host a lunch immediately afterwards. Details will be available after the service.

In accordance with Papa's last wishes, there will not be a wake or viewing. In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to a charity of your own choosing in Papa's name if you so wish.

Thank you for your thoughts, prayers and understanding.

Our Dad. Our dad was such a private person that he did not want a viewing, a wake at his funeral. He chose to be cremated. While he had said in the past that the he did not want to be eulogized on this occasion, our family felt that, at the very least, he deserves to be honored by one of us. Honored for the righteous and purposeful life he lived. Honored for the strong, loving and caring person that he was.

I thank you for allowing me the opportunity to stand here before you and talk about our dad. He was the youngest of four siblings. All the others have passed away. His dad whom he never met, died before our dad was born. His mom raised them but also passed away during his teenage years. He had lived during the war, under Japanese rule. I think these early years had an impact on how he lived his life.

He was determined and driven to succeed. It showed in his demeanor. Stern, focused look in his eyes. Formal demeanor. Married to our mom in 1955 and with a child, our eldest brother Rey. He got his degree in Chemical Engineering in 1956 and past the board a few months later. All his professional life was devoted to the paint and coatings industry. He built and managed several paint factories in the Philippines. In fact our fondest memories in the Philippines growing up were connected to the factory he built and managed – a place surrounded by trees, empty fields, streams and watering holes – perfect place for kids to explore. He would take us to work on our school days off. Set us free to explore anywhere and everywhere we chose so long as we were back by lunchtime. We had several big family gatherings there – Easter egg hunts - with aunts, uncles, cousins – fun times.

What he exceled in professionally was developing coating and ink materials. Came to the US in 1973, worked for Sherwin Williams and other coating companies first as a Process Engineer. Moved up until he became the Vice President and Technical Director of a small company that manufactured highly innovative electronic products. That segment of the business ended up being bought and sold to what is now part of the Henkel Corporation. Transferred to Northrop Grumman where he retired working as a Materials Engineer on the B2 bomber at the height of the program. – Exciting and eventful times for him I know. I worked with him then, know his work and what he developed. I am so proud of what he accomplished there and all the other places he worked.

Retirement was a long series of travel vacations with our mom, families and friends. Quite a few were the Catholic tours. And then there was Vegas, Laughlin, and Rincon. He had the knack for winning at the casinos. Retirement was good for his soul. He became a kid at heart again. DJ knows.

He lived his life with purpose and taught us good values growing up. Tough love is what he gave us. Education ranks high in the grand scheme of things. I remember long nights studying when we couldn't get a concept right and he would tell us to go back and hit the books until we get it right. And the words he gave us to live by were not demeaning – Something like I thought you are better than that so why can't you get it – study again until you get it. Hurtful at that time, I know, but we got over it. A disciplinarian through and through, he taught us to fend for ourselves. He gave us just enough latitude to try things on our own. Make and correct our mistakes as we go. And through all these, he was always there to support. When we needed it, he would tell us what he thought was the right thing to do. And for the most part we listened and he was right.

Above all else the essence of family was central to his daily life. He was loyal to our mom and loved her dearly. Our needs came first, he gave up a lot to raise and nurture us. After all he had to support mom and seven kids.Supported us through college, several of us at the same time at one point. And this support extended out to his nephews and nieces who needed it most in the Philippines.

He was a God-fearing, pious person. Through his actions, he taught us to pray. I remember Sunday masses and regular family rosaries together. I remember walking past his bedroom door on many occasions at night. There he was sitting by edge of his bed, hands clasped together, head bowed down in quiet prayer.

Loves to design and build things. Converted the garage to bedrooms so each of us would have a room of our own. Up on the roof replaced all the shingles. Asbestos in the attic – no problem. He replaced all of it. He was an engineer after all.

Avid reader. Books, magazines newspapers scattered all over the house. Very methodical and an excellent planner. All these that we have here, he planned – He planned his own burial and memorial service back in 2005. Down to the guest book you guys signed. Totally analytical, he took copious notes. He seemed to have carried what I call lab books everywhere he went. He raised pigs and chickens at one time. I mean hundreds and hundreds of pigs and chickens. Each pig or piglet was totally accounted for with a series of V-shaped snips on their ears. Cut them with a pair of pliers. And medications given to each and every pig tabulated in these books. A few days ago our sister Amy was rummaging through his desk and came across a note he wrote dated July 9, 2010 at 10:10 AM. A note about his deteriorating health. He knew Parkinson's was starting to set in. It is hurtful to see a person in this condition who once had that spring in his step. know his walk – always brisk, his head bobbing up and down with every step he took. Now while his motor skills were quickly fading he always had a sharp mind to the very end. Brilliant by a lot of standards. He could make conversions and calculations in his head. I have had the pleasure to work with him professionally for about 5 or so years and the calculations he makes in his head – amounts of chemicals to add in a batch, on the spot. Amazing. He remembered birthdays, anniversaries, special events, when to pay bills. A month ago, mom was working on a recipe and dad slowly eating breakfast two hours into it. Mom asks him a conversion question. Kilograms to pounds. Without skipping a beat, without looking up, and still slowly eating his food, he says 11 pounds, and kept on eating. Mom asked me to check. Whipped out the calculator, 5 Kilos - yeah he was right.

About two weeks ago our dad's doctor rounded us for our first family meeting to discuss options related to his condition. Our dad laying in the hospital bed a few days now. Our family knew what was coming – we knew a cure was not to be. No, not this time around. And words such as comatose, minimum brain activity, minimal chance of survival. Words that now describes a man who was once the essence of a strong family figure – was totally heartbreaking. It is to be. And here we are.

The last few days were special to me in that I had the chance to sit down, reminisce and remember special memories of my dad. Our dad lived a full, productive life. Laid it all out on the table. No excuses, no regrets. It warmed my heart gracefully to have said our dad's story to you. And I thank you for the opportunity to stand up here before you. Our family thanks you – our mom, my six brothers and sisters. We thank you for the love and support you have shown us during these trying days. We thank you for taking the time to pay your final respects to him. We thank you to those who have joined us in our nightly novena. We thank you for blessings that you have showered upon us. And I know our Dad also thanks you.

Papa, your work is done, you are tired we know, you have said that many times not so long ago. We watched you suffer with tears in our eyes and we now know that was really our last goodbyes. We love you dearly, but we know you must go. To Heaven, that place where real heroes go. To meet your dad you never met, the mom you barely knew and all the rest who had bid adieu. So we thank you Papa for first getting us grounded then giving us wings to fly. After all that is what you wanted and what we really needed to get us by. Though you are gone from this world you will be in our hearts forever. And we thank you for making us better. We Love you Papa.