Uncle Nel Thank You for everything.  We love you.  You are always in our hearts...

Dear Cornell & Family,
We are truly sorry to hear about your family's loss. Our hearts and thoughts are with you. 
With our deepest Condolences,
GoPRO Mechanical Engineering Team

It's curious......It's curious how days like today change what we think is important. The relevance of our day-to-day worries are put into perspective when we lose someone who was so much a part of our lives.

Today, we have come to say our farewells to a man who, simply put, we will all miss terribly, looking and searching for what Nel meant to us. For each of us those things will be different. For each of us our grief will be personal. Today, however, we have come together to share in that grief, but also to celebrate his life. Today we have a chance to focus not just on what Nel meant to us but who he really was. To cherish the times that we shared with this special man who was so loved by so many.

Today I am saying goodbye to a brother-in-law who, although looked at me with initial skepticism as I asked for permission to marry his youngest sister he opened his heart to me and welcomed me into his family sharing his wisdom and experience.

Personally, I have thought about the moments that I was privileged to share with him. Joyous trips, in the motorhome, to Ensenada, Yosemite and San Francisco where he toured our son Thomas on his shoulders. I've also have thought about how much respect I felt for a man who came to be not only my brother-in-law, but also a wonderfully close friend. He was not my blood brother but he was as close as a brother.

We have lost a loved one, a friend, a man for whom family was important. That he was well respected is self-evident. That he was much admired and loved is an understatement. Those things are particularly important to so many whose lives he's touched and who was a rich part of our lives.

Knowing Nel, he would not want us to dwell on those things. We are free to celebrate what and who he was. Let us keep those stories and memories alive. Let us thank Nel for the privilege of knowing someone who was so generous and giving. In his memory let us take those thoughts away with us. Let us take the gift he has given us and help us to remember, from today, what is really important in life. How lucky we are to be able to hold those thoughts and cherish them in our hearts.

Until we meet again Nel, rest in peace.


Sent from my iPhone

On behalf of Connie Cantos, Jasmine Pagaduan, her first cousin, eloquently read this as one of the final tributes during closing on Sunday, December 15, 2013 at the Glen Abbey Chapel:


This is one of the hardest things I believe I have ever had to do.  After several weeks of different challenges we endured and especially after such a beautiful evening we had together last night with Dad, I kept thinking "Are there any words good enough to speak of our Beloved Dad?"   
?
He would have been overwhelmed by all the prayers, the food, the beautiful flowers, the slide show his children created, the tributes in words, song and our own private and personal thoughts.  

All the time and effort many of us have taken not just now but over the years to show and express our gratitude and love for both Mom and Dad are priceless.  

Dad was very proud to have been blessed with the love of his family, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends not only of those in this room tonight but by others all around the world knowing that they are here to celebrate his life.  He never forgot his roots. He never forgot where he came from.  He worked hard.  Through all his relentless hard work, he went from a young boy in shorts and slippers to a well-respected Officer and a Gentleman. ?He always said that he may not have been rich in THIS life with money or material things but boasted that he was blessed to have so many wonderful people to share life with. He cherished that. He taught that. He spread that to each one of us in his own special way. 

I'll miss his perspective and his humor.  I'll miss the surprising depth and scope of his knowledge, guidance and opinions. I'll miss the warmth he extended to everyone he met. I'll especially miss having him around.

On behalf of myself, my Mom, Lanie and Mel, Cornell and Mai, Derek, Trevor, Chiara and Bianca I say, “We will miss our Dad dearly.  We are PROUD to be your children and grandchildren and will forever honor you.”

Dad, we sincerely “Thank You” for the life you gave us and are grateful for allowing us to show you our deepest love and respect.  We are proud of YOU for the unselfish life you lived and shared even to your very last breath.  We assure you that your legacy will live for generations to come through each of us and we will continue to spread your joy and generosity.  You will always remain in our hearts and we will always feel your spirit wherever we go and in whatever we do.  We will reflect on your love to give us strength to grieve your loss.  You will now be “OUR GUARDIAN ANGEL" and we will treasure your memory forever.  

May you now Rest in Peace. 

WE LOVE YOU DAD.

Uncle Nel
You are called to reunite with our Heavenly Father, we will 
greatly missed you, we love 
you. You are at peace now, we will always remember your great smile.

Dear Nora & family, we very sincerely share your loss in Nel's passing but we wish you all the Love, Comforts, Hopes and Peace in the days, weeks and years to come through our Maker in Heaven.  

The Javiers, Thousand Oaks, CA

Dear Nora & family, we very sincerely share your loss in Nel's passing but we wish you all the Love, Comforts, Hopes and Peace in the days, weeks, months and years to come through our Maker in Heaven.  

The Javiers, Thousand Oaks, CA

Sending our thoughts and prayers to the family and wishing you many blessings this time of year.

Our sincere sympathies for the loss of Lolo Nel. 

~ Kiko, Dianne, Geff and Alyanna

Because our children are a reflection of who we are and who we where I can truthfully say you where an outstanding man , who taught your children, respect, compassion, valor and honor. God decided he needed you in heaven to help him run the ship, knowing that you left the people here ready to take the rudder now. May God hold you in his arms and may his mercy and compassion comfort your family.

God saw you getting tired,
When a cure was not to be.
So He wrapped his arms around you, 
and he whispered "come to me"
You didn't deserve what you went through, 
So he gave you rest.
God's garden must be beautiful, 
He only takes the best
And when we see you sleeping, so peaceful and free of pain
We could not wish you back
To suffer that again.
My prayers go out to your wife, kids, grandkids and all your family

Dearest Uncle Nel.   Through your own living example, you have inspired a generation of young service members to serve their country dutifully, but more importantly, you have taught us to balance our life by always loving our Family.  You will be missed.  Love, Rob, Mylene & Alex

To my dearest Ate Nora, children and grandchildren,
       We sorrow with you over the loss of a dear loved one and yet rejoice in the celebration of Kuya Nel's beautiful life and legacy of love. We all look  forward to the Blessed Day when we are all gathered together, never to part again.
                                                            Jessie, Ethel & Jasmine

We will miss you Uncle Nel. Keeping our whole family in my thoughts on the east coast. Miss you all. Xoxo 

Briana

To dear Auntie Nora, Lanie, Connie and Cornel,

Please accept our heartfelt sympathies for the loss of Uncle Nel.

Most of us saw him the last time, during our Cantos clan reunion in the Philippines in December 2006. It was a very memorable and enjoyable time for all of us. He brought so much joy and laughter to everybody.

Uncle Nel, you will remain in our hearts forever.

PAALAM UNCLE NEL....

With love and hugs,

Marissa & Dave
xxx

Wesley and I have been blessed over the years with many wonderful people in our lives. This is our tribute to a man, father, husband, uncle, brother our godfather who, from the moment we knew him, had a positive and beautiful impact on our lives.  Will surely missed you Tito Nel.  

Rest in Peace.

Wesley, Nene, Xavier and Thea Ylagan

We Love you Uncle Nel. We will miss you. May your soul rest in peace....

I first met the Cantos family when they arrived from the Philippines and lived with our family for a while. They have been an important part of our family ever since, loving all of us, and our babies as they were born, providing love and support for us through good times and bad. 

Uncle Nel, you always cared about all of us, and you were always so much fun. Thank you for the love and laughter through all these years. You touched so many lives, and you will forever live on in our hearts and our stories and memories. Your family IS your legacy, as someone else wrote, and what a wonderful job you did!

With love for you always,
Betty Jane

Dearest Uncle Nel, Your life was gold but the legacy you left behind is priceless. You have proven in your lifetime that a man attends to his duty to his family, friends and country with honor, kindness and understanding. You are the epitome of a great man! I will miss you dearly!

We share your many wonderful memories.  We share your loss.  Take comfort that your Dad is with the Lord.  We love you.  Just remember we are always a call or a computer away.  --Santos Family, Ewa Beach, Hawaii----   Peping, Gigi, Leslie, Jonjon and Baby Riley.

Lolo, you will forever be in our hearts.  You were the 3rd Grandfather to our girls and my Surrogate Father.  I loved when you would introduce me and say "This is my Eldest Daughter" and people would look at you as though you knew something they didn't. George and I thank you from the bottom of our heart for helping us with Erika and Jenna and molding them into the loving caring young ladies they are today. You loved us as much as we love you. Rest in Peace in the Hands of Our Lord.  Joyce Cruz, Albuquerque, NM

OBITUARY

Cornelio F. Cantos

June 23, 1937 – December 8, 2013

Glen Abbey Memorial Park & Mortuary

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