Rebecca Anne Mabunay

Rebecca Anne Mabunay was born on September 28, 1988, in Chula Vista, California, joining older brother Ben and parents, Bobbi Vandermark and Mario Mabunay. As an infant child, she lived in Chula Vista for a few months before traveling to Guam with her parents while they were serving in the Navy. Becky moved back to California three years later with the family where they lived in Mira Mesa for nearly ten years before moving back down to Chula Vista and Otay Ranch. Becky started school at Mason Lowell Elementary where she attended for seven years (including kindergarten), transferring to Wagenheim Middle School for 7th grade and part of 8th grade, and completing 8th grade at Rancho del Rey Middle School in Chula Vista. She went on to Eastlake High School for 9th grade and then transferred to Otay Ranch High School where she was in the first graduating class of 2006. Her endeavors for further education continued at San Diego State University as she wanted to stay close to her family. She earned her BS in Public Health and then later decided to go on to nursing school inspired by her parents who successfully transitioned from the military to “retired” status. She was following their lead. In fact, Lola, Tita Marcell, Mom, & Dad are all nurses! Becky was to be the third generation in the same household due to graduate in January 2013. Becky’s favorite sport was always volleyball. When she did not get picked up for the girls’ team in high school, she decided to help coach the boys’ team. What a strong-willed individual! She spent countless hours at the gym helping those guys get their proverbial “stuff” together. They won many games thanks to her selfless devotion. She also loved to draw & paint. She has many examples of her artwork in her room. Above all, she truly enjoyed reading which was what landed her a job at Barnes and Noble Bookstore as a bookseller since the tender age of 16. This is believed to have spurred her intense desire to write as well. Just visit her blog to check out some of her deepest thoughts – it will amaze you! Here’s what she wrote on the act of listening, “It’s the easiest act of kindness you can do, besides smile… It's just one more way of putting someone else before yourself.” – Lady B. Over the years, Becky developed into a caring, thoughtful and beautiful young woman with a uniquely quick wit about her. Mature and wise, well beyond her 23 years, many would describe her as strong-willed, opinionated, and free spirited; traits that she herself would most likely credit to her loving parents. She loved her family beyond words, wearing her heart on her sleeve with a simple smile or hug, or a heartfelt letter or note, left here and there. Her mother’s little “petunia,” Becky often praised Bobbi’s strength and selflessness, dedicating a very special petunia of her own to the woman whose presence she described as one that soothed her. She celebrated her father’s devotion to family and loved him in a way that only “daddy’s little girl” could understand. And for her brother, Ben, she only ever wanted the best in life. Becky particularly cherished the love shared with family, friends, and faith, explaining, “I do believe in its strength and beauty. I do give all to love, for love is the only thing that has made me happy… It has given me the strength to make better decisions. It has taught me to be considerate of others before myself. It has made me a better person.” Throughout all of life’s struggles, hardships, or anxieties, she was comforted by the love of those in her life and ultimately lived for those whom she loved. From when she was a child and well into her young adulthood, Becky held a genuine appreciation for the world around her, expressing her thoughts and feelings as a gifted writer and lover of creative expression. She found inspiration in literature, music, and the arts, holding a particular fondness for strong female figures like singers Billie Holiday and Erykah Baduh to glamorous pop icons like Marilyn Monroe and Betty Page. She was contemplative and at times reserved, but ultimately a rebel steadfast in her ambitions like the powerful women she looked up to. Often, Becky dreamed about the future, thinking about the people around her and the world of possibilities at her feet. She once stated, “All I want in my life is to be strong enough to get through each day and powerful enough to make a difference in someone's life.” A self-proclaimed "science nerd," Becky went on to pursue an undergraduate degree in Health Sciences and Public Health at San Diego State University, eventually graduating with honors in 2010. Her ambitious spirit and unwavering sense of compassion for others led her to continue her education as she was most recently working towards a Master’s degree in Nursing. Speaking specifically about her future, Becky once stated, “I'll be on my way to making the world a better place.” And for those who knew her, this statement reigns true as their lives have forever been changed by her witty, vivacious, and passionate soul. And, although Becky is no longer with us, her spirit lives on in the people who knew her best and those whom she loved to no end. She experienced life in a way, all her own, standing up for that which she believed in and most importantly felt in her heart. Her humor, her laughter, her unique insight, and genuinely beautiful persona, will be cherished for years to come.