Raymond Anthony Zabala III

Our beloved son, Raymond Anthony Zabala III was born on December 17, 1979 and entered into eternal life on June 2, 2015. Mijo was such a great son. He was very caring, continually being helpful and thoughtful, trying to bring happiness to family and friends. He always looked forward to our family vacations, particularly camping and fishing the high sierras. His love for sports was unmatched. He would memorize all the professional players and coaches. His leadership skills shined as a young boy, especially in little league baseball and basketball, which combined with his ability to play well put him in a position to excel as a player and a teammate. His suggestions to his coaches and his determination to play well were always a motivation to his team players to play their best.

He was well liked everywhere. At St Hilary’s Elementary School and Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary High School, teachers frequently commented how nice it was to have a student like Ray. He was very respectful and kind to all. When he graduated high school in 1998, he attended Cal State, Dominguez Hills where he continued his baseball career. He then went on to work at the Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet in Customer Service, assisting various vendors. With that big personality of his, Ray made many friends, while dedicating himself to work. Shortly thereafter he worked at a family-owned bakery in El Monte where he quickly learned to manage the business while serving loyal customers who enjoyed talking to him very much.

While living in Pico Rivera, he met the love of his life, Stephanie. She coincidentally lived only a few houses away and they fell in love. Soon they were inseparable including Ryan, Stephanie’s son who Mijo loved as his own son. They were very involved in Ryan’s school and sports activities, something that Ray truly enjoyed. It created a bond between the three of them that will continue forever. In July 2014, they found out Stephanie was pregnant. Ray was so happy and when Raymond Anthony Zabala IV was born on March 23, 2015, it was the happiest day of his life! Our son’s life was cut too short and it greatly saddens us to realize our grandson will live his life without his Daddy.

Mijo, you may be gone from this Earth but you will never be forgotten. As we know you are with God, who has blessed you with everlasting life. We thank you for teaching us to be compassionate, respectful of others. You will be terribly missed by all your family and friends.

We love you dearly. The memories we have will last forever until we meet again. God bless you!

Love, Mom & Dad