Tamela Pena Obituary
Published by Legacy Remembers on Oct. 31, 2019.
Tamela "Tammy" June Peña, 59, passed away peacefully on Thursday October 31st, 2019. Tammy was born in Oakland, CA on June 14th, 1960 to Eugene "Tiny" and Marguerite "Mickey" Walsh.
Tammy was known for her kind and giving nature. She truly enjoyed helping people and celebrating others. She will forever be remembered as loving, strong, generous, persistent and most importantly, trusting in God.
Tammy was very well-loved and had many important people in her life. Her siblings: Troy, Tina, Tim, Tom, Terry and Tracy were her family of birth whom she loved and she was adored by them. Tammy also had many people who were her family of choice and lifelong friends: Loretta Rivera, Lavina Miller, Gina and Pete Cordero, Julie and Mike Williams, Cindy and Mike Contreras, Kathy and Rich Mello, and Melanie and Mike Pierini.
Raised in San Leandro, CA, Tammy attended San Leandro High and Chabot College. While cruising "the strip" with her friends, she met the love of her life, who later became her husband, Joseph Peña. At 21, she gave birth to their beloved son, Anthony.
She worked as a financial advisor at Life Chiropractic College West and as a collections agent for DCS. One of Tammy's favorite jobs and a career turning point was working for TGIF Body Shop in Fremont, CA. At TGIF, Tammy's family friends, Rich and Kathy Mello sent her to estimating school and she discovered her passion, auto body estimating. Tammy worked as an auto body estimator at Service King in Leander, TX at the time of her passing.
Tammy, Joe, and Anthony lived in California for most of their lives. In 2012 Tammy and Joe moved to Leander, TX to be nearer to Anthony. In 2012, Anthony met his wife, and Tammy's favorite daughter in law, Amanda. Amanda and Anthony have two children, Matthew (10) and Maisy (3). Matthew and Maisy were Tammy's most precious blessings. There has never been a more devoted grandma than she. "Grammy Tammy" lived a mere 3 miles away from Matthew and Maisy, which made her very happy. She never missed a soccer game. She baked and beautifully decorated every birthday cake, went to all of their school functions, cooked regular family meals, and ensured that her grandchildren were spoiled rotten. She especially loved taking Matthew to kid-friendly, fun places and painting Maisy's nails right after braiding her hair. Her grandchildren will miss her dearly.
Tammy is survived by her husband Joseph; son Anthony and daughter-in-law Amanda, along with grandchildren Matthew and Maisy of Leander, TX; sister, Tina Benjamin of Castro Valley, CA; brothers, Terry and Tom Walsh (wife Debbi) of San Leandro, CA; nephews, Richard Walsh (daughter Adrianna), and Michael Walsh (daughter Yvette), and Jeff Benjamin of Castro Valley, CA; and nieces, Tara Walsh of San Leandro, CA; Andrea Tapia (husband Andrew and daughters Allison and Audrey), and Amanda Spalasso (husband Kevin) all of Livermore, CA; her uncle, Ray Fields of Columbus, OH; several cousins, and many loving friends. Tammy was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, Troy, Tim & Tracy Walsh.