Perla Nunag Funkhouser

On December 2nd, 2024, the world lost Perla Nunag Funkhouser, beloved mother, sister, and friend, who was 71 years old. She was a bright ray of sunshine in the life of many. Born on January 5th, 1953 in Santo Tomas, Lubao, Pampanga, she grew up in poverty in a rural part of the Philippines, but was able to move to the United States after she met Jerry Funkhouser, the love of her life. Together they had two children, bought a house in Twentynine Palms, and lived happily for many years. Perla is remembered as a truly special person who had a strong, magnetic personality. She was full of life and was definitely the type of person that could light up a room. She was a warm and caring mother, an excellent cook, and just an all around great person with a giving heart. People loved being around her and she loved being around people. She also loved to cook for people. Her favorite job in life, besides being a mom, was her job as a cook at a daycare. We joked that she was a professional mom. The kids she cooked for loved her and her cooking and would sometimes cry when they had to go back to their real parents.
Perla was preceded in death by her father, Pedro Dela Cruz, her mother, Guadalupe Nunag, her older sister, Lolet Castro, younger brother, Leonardo Dela Cruz, and her beloved husband, Jerry Funkhouser, who passed away in 2019. She is survived by her children, Jedrek Funkhouser of Twentynine Palms, CA, and Jayrieper Funkhouser of Henderson, NV; her brothers and sisters, Enerato Dela Cruz of Santo Tomas, Lubao, Pampanga, Nena Cupcupin of Navotas, Pepito Dela Cruz of Santo Tomas, Lubao, Pampanga, Cecilio Dela Cruz of Santo Tomas, Lubao, Pampanga, Zaima Cunanan of Valenzuela City, Roberto Dela Cruz of Santo Tomas, Lubao, Pampanga; and survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews, and lifelong friends.
A celebration of Perla's life will be held on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM at 690 South Vella Road in Palm Springs, CA.
Perla's kindness and caring nature, generosity, wisdom, humor, and infectious laughter will be deeply missed by all who knew her. She leaves behind a legacy of love, service, and joy, and her memory will live on in the hearts of her family, friends, and the many, many lives she touched throughout her life.