I wanted to express my sincerest gratitude to all the wonderful people who helped create a memorable ceremony that not only aligned with Lourdes’ final wishes, but was worthy of her blessing and approval. Additionally, I wanted to thank those who helped develop this website, create the slideshows and projections, and perform and support the wonderful labor of love that went into commemorating and honoring our mother’s life, legacy, and memory.

Diego Lopez

Counselor | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Cypress, CA | lopez@forestlawn.com

Your guidance in helping our family navigate through this most difficult time in our lives was invaluable. You did so with utmost compassion, understanding, patience, and empathy. Thank you, Diego.

Maggie Gudino

Bereavement Ministry | Holy Family Catholic Church, Artesia, CA

How would we have scheduled and organized the funeral services without you, Maggie. Your hand-holding was much needed as we had no clue what to do. Thank you so much for your ministry. God’s hand was certainly guiding the appointment of the right person for the job!

Ann Cuatrona & The Harmony Choir

Choir Director, Harmony Choir | Holy Family Catholic Church, Artesia, CA

Ann, thank you and the Harmony Choir for participating in these ceremonies; and a special thanks to you for helping us select and organize all the music. This was a daunting task with so many possible song choices and song placement assignments, you really took it upon your shoulders to make this part of the process as painless and stress-free for both me and my dad. Thank you, your lovely choir, and the ministry you all provide for adding the sound of angels to our own Angel’s ceremonies.

Eman Fatima

Slideshow Creator Extraordinaire

You are so talented. You executed the slideshow video exactly as I envisioned. As an After Effects Pro talking to an After Effects novice, I must say thank you for your saintly patience through this process. I imagine it as Steven Hawkins explaining the universe to a slice of bread. Your finished deliverable was brilliant and I couldn’t be more pleased; and I encourage everyone to go to her if you need a slideshow video. She’s even told me that she’ll do it at a discounted price, too. Click on her name (or here) to go to her page.

Qode Support Team

Qode Interactive

The support at Qode, specifically that from Nenad Obradovic, Mladen Radosavljevic, and Dragutin Ilic, have been incredible. I was working with the dream team of technical support. Thank you all so much for not only providing a beautiful WordPress theme, but for being so professional, knowledgeable, patient, and thorough with the assistance you provided. You’re truly a model for not just other theme and plugin companies, but for any product- or service-based organization. You’ve created a lifelong supporter, marketer, and fan out of me, certainly. God bless you all!

Flaticon

Free icons for general use (attribution required)

Angel icons created by surang – Flaticon

Vijay Vilano

Tech and AI Guru

Thanks for offering your skills to the cause, Vijay. Your tech savviness came in clutch when it really mattered—and as the family knows, it mattered a lot. I appreciate you so much for being there for her. You were my Mom’s Go-To Guy; and now that she’s with Christ, you’re still being my Mom’s Go-To Guy. When we needed an announcement, you were there. When we needed a projectionist, you were there. Mom relied on you in this life; and as it’s become apparently clear, she could certainly rely on you in the next. Thanks, Vijay, for your wonderful love language. Mom surely understood it; and just know that she loved and appreciated you and your wife immeasurably.

Analee Vilano

Super Niece & Right-Hand Lady

And speaking of wife . . . as the better half of the Vilano Dynamic Duo (*wink*), Analee, you were our rock. Having gone through this before (rest in peace, Uncle Bobby), we relied on your experience and guidance—and you delivered in spades, easing the confusion and stress for our entire family during this tumultuous time. Thank you for your sage advice; and for being—not only a wonderful niece to our mom—but a true friend and confidant to her as well. She trusted you. She loved you. And we do, too!l! You were certainly a pillar to the “Celebrate the Life of Lourdes” Team and we are so thankful to God for you.

Gina McNelley

Firstborn & Big Sister

Gina, I can’t thank you enough for your family providing mom such a memorable day during the last few of her storied life. On that fateful day, Sunday, October 4, 2026, to see her elation while visiting your boys and to have captured her dancing with joy, saying on video: “No more pain! No more pain!” We couldn’t have asked for a better send-off than that! The whole day was magical. From breakfast at Breezy’s, to Zach’s and Ian’s apartments, then off chasing Auntie Aida in a stolen Porsche (*wink*), then capping off the day at one of her favorite restaurants—it was just a good day; and I’m glad we were a part of it to see mom so very happy . . . with no more pain . . . no more pain.

Leilani Brown

Lastborn & Little Sister

Lei, you and your family were Mom’s fortress of stability. Mom would always reminisce about watching Anela and Pierce grow up before her eyes. After the look of utter shock would wash over her whenever the subject of your kids being in college would come up, without fail she would always say, “and we used to bathe them in the sink.” She loved visiting you and caring for your children. You gave her the glorious gift of second motherhood. While Gina and I were away, you were the one who truly rooted herself to the lovely and solid oak that is our mother; and the fruits of that rooting will be for Anela and Pierce to grow up knowing what a loving, self-sacrificing, gentle, and ever-so-kind matriarch their lovely Lala was to all who knew her.

Gene Ines

Husband & Dad

Dad, thank you for allowing God to order your steps on the path that led you to meeting a 16-year old Lourdes Vilda. Thank you for allowing your heart to gladly open and receive her as your lifelong soulmate. Thank you for blessing three undeserving kids with a mother so filled with unconditional love—that even when unlovable, she still loved us. Thank you for blessing her by providing her such a beautiful life. The sweat of your brow is the reason she wanted for nothing, receiving the bounty from the abundance of God’s provisions: a life filled with the love of family, the joy of friends, and the adventures of traveling around the world. Your true lives together began with a kiss at the altar and a vow to God. When she passed away in your arms in the home that you two built together, you fulfilled your vows: You stayed together to the very end—from that altar kiss to that final embrace. I love you, Dad, for all you’ve done for her. I love you for loving her. And I thank you for being my dad.

Lastly, to all our relatives, to all her friends, to all those who were positive forces in her life, to all those who blessed her, who loved her, who relied on her and on whom she relied, who laughed with her and laughed because of her, who were the cause of a smile at the end of her day, who prayed for her when she was sick, who cared for her when she was helpless, who found themselves gladly on the leading side of a dance (or who found themselves with her leading, as well), thank you. She loved you and her life is truly the ultimate evidence of her gratitude and appreciation. It says with the effervescence and exuberance we all know her to have, “Thank you!”

For you, Mom.

Your son,