Daniel D. Cortez

Our father was hardworking, strong, loving father and grandfather. He loved spending time with his family and was deeply devoted to his grandchildren. However, at one point in his life he made the decision to surrender his life to the lord which made him a better man and a big influence in our lives and the lives of those who knew him.

At a very young age he became independent and showed his will to live. He believed that if you worked hard, treated people right and put God first that was all you needed to live a good life. He was always there for his family and friends no matter what time of day he didn’t complain. He proved to his last day that he truly was a man of God. He didn’t shed a tear when the doctor gave him the horrific results but, instead he said, “Only God Knows”. Throughout his last days God blessed him with feeling no severe pain, only discomfort. He gave him time with his family and blessed him to be with his family on his last day, September 19, 2012. His last clear words were “God is Good” and with that it left our family with peace in our hearts which is what he wanted.

He said he always felt God was by his side and it was so. The day before the doctor gave him the news he was in the hospital room with a man that didn’t say much. The next morning I (daughter) went to visit and saw a different man who was there due to an accident that morning with an aneurysm and blood in the head. He didn’t seem sick because he was walking around like nothing was wrong with him. He was talking about the Lord and how we were to leave things in his hands, etc. The doctor then came in to tell us our dad was very ill and there was no cure. The same man came from around the curtain and asked to pray with us which it brought a sense of peace and comfort to our hearts even though it was bad news. Our dad was taken for more tests that evening so I left. I went back and saw the man was no longer there. I asked the nurse which she replied, “His tests came back normal and was discharged.” Our dad said, “Mija he left his number to call him”. I looked at the number and the name turned out to be “Jesus”. Our dad said, “Things like this had always happened throughout my life”. I said, “And He is here now Dad”. We knew our Lord was not going to abandon us now and that it was all in His hands.

The day before he passed Chris (Husband) and I were up with him at 3:00 AM, he pointed to the ceiling and said, “Look, look”. I asked, “What dad?” He replied, “See that Penguin”. I asked him, “Are there Penguins in Heaven Dad?” He fell asleep after that. The day after he passed Chris and I went to the cemetery for arrangements and on the way out Chris stopped the car and said, “Look, what is that?” We both looked at each other with such shock because it was a 2 ½ plush penguin leaning in a tree. The staff member there mentioned that it was rare to see a penguin which that confirmed to us that he was in God’s hands and okay.

All these experiences left us with the peace that our dad wanted to leave us with. He will be missed tremendously and know one day we will see him again.

He was raised in Texas by his mother and stepfather. At an early age he came to California to start a family.

He is survived by his wife, five children, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.