Rufina Gacayan Patron

Rufina, or Dalen as she was also known as, was born in Santa Maria, Pangasinan, Philippines to Fortunata and Pablo Gacayan.

Her husband Marcelo preceded her in death in 2021, her daughter Marissa in 2003 and her granddaughter Chantilly in 1992.

She was a loving wife, mom, grandma and great grandma.

Her family was gathered around her in her final hours and she was able to face time, smile, wave and say goodbye to her best friend Ana Enciso, whom she loved dearly loved and was in the Philippines at the time.

Her children and their spouses, Edwin, Adrienne, Sonny, Rhemy, Nancy, David, Joyce and John, will miss her; as well as her grandchildren, Derek, Bianca, Cameron, Angelica, Dante, Sierra, Christian, Bella, Michael, Chloe, Christian and her great grandchild Jayden.

She was involved in her community as a member of the Bay Terraces fil-am Senior Association at Tooma Park as well as the fil-am association at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church.

In Rufina’s early life, she went to college and became a midwife; she then married Marcelo in 1957, whom she grew up with in the Barrio of Santa Maria. They had their first 3 children, Marissa, Edwin and Marcelo Jr. (Sonny) in the Philippines then moved to the United States. Nancy was born in Virginia. They travelled cross-country while pregnant with Joyce and finally settled in San Diego.

She dedicated her life to her 5 children at home while Marcelo was deployed in the Navy.

Later in life, she chose to go back to work as a nursing assistant when her youngest was finally in school and her husband was retired from the Navy.

Rufina continued to show dedication to her family and she looked after her grandchildren by picking them up from elementary, middle and high school. She drove them to their activities like basketball practice, CCD or just taking them out to eat. She loved her time with her grandchildren and often took them all to Denny’s with Marcelo. She bought a bigger car so she was able to fit them all.

Rufina and her husband were incredibly active and had a massive social circle from associations or close family and friends.

Rufina showed her love for the world with her sense of humor and was always smiling.

Rufina’s favorite activity was shopping. She had a collection of clothing, shoes, purses and she was always surprising her family with gifts she had found for them. She had 3 full rooms in her house to hold it all. She was a member of the walking group at Plaza Bonita, which fit in perfect for her. Marcelo sat with his friends after exercising then Rufina went shopping with hers.

Rufina also loved dancing through life with Marcelo, whether line dancing at the park or ballroom dancing on New Years Eve.

She will be forever missed and loved by everyone that knew her.

Her family takes comfort that Daddy, Marissa and Chantilly were able to welcome her into Paradise. She is so happy right now to be a wife, a mother and grandmother in heaven as she was on Earth.

Mom is reunited with Daddy dancing on the clouds.