Reynaldo Organo Rapada

Reynaldo O. Rapada, 77, of Blackwood, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on October 2, 2025. A devoted husband, loving father, and proud grandfather, Reynaldo (Rey) lived a life filled with love, dedication, and joy.
Born on July 26, 1948, in Villasis, Pangasinan, Philippines, to the late Guillermo Rafanan and Felomina Organo Rapada. Reynaldo, also affectionately known as "Aldo", began life in a world where children made their own toys and created games made from bottle caps and ingenuity. As a young boy, he sold pandesal (Filipino bread) on the streets. He learned early the value of hard work and determination. His childhood days were filled with adventure, including memorable escapes from farmers whose fields became playgrounds. These were the training grounds for a boy who would one day travel the world.
Education became his portal to possibility. In college, pursuing nursing, he met not only his calling but his destiny - Evangeline, the woman who would walk beside him for 51 years. After graduating he first served in Germany where he honed his skills as a nurse, then across the Atlantic to America.
With only a dime in his pocket - enough for one phone call to his cousin Rolando "Rolly" Rafanan - he stepped off the plane onto American soil. That single coin represented everything: faith, courage, and the audacity to begin again with nothing but hope and determination. His cousin's ride from the airport marked the beginning of a new chapter.
For 30+ years, he served at Veterans Administration hospitals in New York and Philadelphia, caring for America's heroes while building his own legacy. He faced the challenges of a new country, a demanding profession, and the responsibility of raising three wonderful children: Elaine, Mark, and Reynaldo "Regie" Rapada Jr. Alongside Evangeline, he transformed obstacles into opportunities, becoming not just a nurse but an entrepreneur with an uncanny ability to discover and create value where others saw none.
His passions ran deep - from the thrill of watching boxing matches that reminded him of fighting spirit to the strategic concentration of card games, from the excitement of attending live auctions in the hunt for antique treasures. He discovered that true wealth wasn't measured in what he acquired, but in moments shared - family gatherings, grandchildren's laughter, and even the loyal companionship of beloved dogs Brownie, Princess, and later Buster.
He loved listening to traditional popular music and rock & roll that included Frank Sinatra, Matt Monro, and The Beatles. He liked watching Philadelphia sports and was an avid Eagles and Sixers fan. He enjoyed traveling, always eager to explore new places and experience new things.
After retirement, he returned to what mattered most - his family. He spent his days with family, playing card games with friends, swimming, and passing down the wisdom earned from a life well-lived. The boy who sold bread in Villasis had become a man who fed souls with his presence, his stories, and his unwavering love.
From humble beginnings to a life of purpose and joy, he showed us the courage to leave home with just a dime, the wisdom to recognize love in nursing school, the strength to serve others for decades, and the grace to know that the greatest adventure is the one shared with those you love.
His story reminds us: every life is an epic, and the truest heroes are those who transform ordinary moments into extraordinary memories.
His kindness, smile, and love for life will be remembered always by those fortunate enough to have known him.
He is survived by his loving wife Evangeline, children Elaine and her husband Robert, Mark, and Reynaldo Jr. and his wife Kin; his adoring grandchildren: Jacob, Alex, and Abigail; his brother Amante and his sister Myrna. He was predeceased by his parents Guillermo and Felomina and brother Renato.
Visitation: Friday, October 10, 2025 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Gardner Funeral Home - Runnemede 126 South Black Horse Pike Runnemede, NJ 08078
Funeral: Saturday, October 11, 2025 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Gardner Funeral Home - Runnemede 126 South Black Horse Pike Runnemede, NJ 08078
Burial: Saturday, October 11, 2025 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Locustwood Memorial Park 1500 Marlton Pike West Cherry Hill, NJ 08002