On behalf of my mom, siblings, cousins, in-laws, outlaws, and all my family, I thank you all for your friendship, support, and prayers through the years, and your presence here today as we remember God’s goodness and give thanks for the gift of dad, Roberto Castillo, to us. Thanks also to dad’s nurses at Trinity Hospice and their home health companions. And I make special mention of my brother Raul and his wife Jing for shouldering the burden of mom and dad’s care for many years, my sister Fina and husband Bob for lovingly taking on all the tedious responsibility and dirty work from the start, and my brothers Rony and Ricky for jumping at every available opportunity to lend a hand, my brother Rudi and his wife Carol for making the journey from the west coast periodically to spend time with them, and Fr. Rene for taking them the sacraments. Thanks also to Fr. Anthony and all our pastors and friends at Holy Spirit these last 40 years, many who have gone ahead of dad and can’t wait to meet him at the gates.

Please join us for refreshments in the Activity Center immediately following the funeral mass. In advance, thank you to all who have provided food and drink today. We haven’t tasted any of it yet, but if we know Holy Spirit well, we know our beloved Fr. Tom Caroluzza would be proud. And we would love to hear your stories of dad, how he touched your lives, and how you touched his.

Being the middle-middle child of 7, I have a unique perspective of dad, still expecting excellence and a willingness to learn after the first 3 very different kids, but not yet so exhausted and permissive after the last 3 very different kids.

Dad and mom were such a great team for 68 years, having learned from the wisdom and example of their wonderful parents. At first they were not very demonstrative of their affection in front of us. Maybe my younger siblings remember differently. But the grandchildren definitely warmed them up, and we all learned to say “I love you” out loud much later in life. I recommend it if you don’t do it yet. Start it even before the grandkids.

But dad showed his affection mostly through his devotion to mom and our family, by faithfully bringing home the bacon, making sure we went to church on Sunday, and Catholic school in our early years, entrusting to us the feeding of his prized roosters and the weeding of his vegetable garden every year. He expected us to work hard and get good grades in school, so that we would later get good jobs and live comfortable and secure, as he was often inspired to announce at the dinner table.

And every now and then, his tender side would show. He wrote me a card when I graduated college in New Jersey, telling me he was proud as he tasted the salt in his tears that I had earned my undergraduate degree. I’m confident he had worked his way up to that point with Rudi and Fina joining the US Air Force, and later with Cardinal Jaime Sin expressing his heartfelt thanks at Fr. Rene’s ordination to the priesthood. I’m sure each of us can recount our own special moments with dad. We’ve all given him a run for his money. But I leave my siblings to tell their own stories. You simply shouldn’t keep these treasures to yourselves.

I remember dad introducing me to his drinking buddies one Saturday evening when I was home from high school seminary. “This is my son, the Jesuit,” he said. I have never been a Jesuit. I’m sure he knew I wasn’t a Jesuit. But his comment caught me by surprise. And I figured later he must have meant it as a compliment.

Probably not long after their 60th anniversary 8 years ago, I began to notice how dad’s hugs just lingered longer each time. He would smile and just cling for a little bit. So after a time I just let him hold on, only letting go when he let go. He didn’t say much when I asked him how he was. “Good,” he’d say with a gentle smile. He didn’t complain even when he moved slowly because he was in some discomfort.

And as I spent some time alone with him the last night before God called him home, I was hoping for a sign, some tangible evidence that all was well. Nothing dramatic happened. Just peaceful sleep trusting in God’s mercy, trusting he always did his best for us, setting for us all an example of confident dedication and quiet unwavering faith in God.

Dad said once he seriously considered studying to become a priest. Thank you mom for capturing his heart, and thank you dad for choosing to follow your noble vocation that enabled us to follow ours. Because of you, we get to be and do all your heart only ever hoped or dreamed. Rest easy. It won’t be long. I’m sure orientation at your new digs will keep you busy for a while. And we all look forward to seeing you again soon.

Rolo B Castillo © 2025