None of us know how long we have here on the earth, so we learn to treasure life as a gift. When we received the surprising news on Thursday that Rey, our former, long-time mission driver, had been diagnosed with liver cancer and was asking for us to come visit, it didn't take long to decide we needed to go right away.


He and Lucy are especially close and he had specifically requested that she come, but it was her day off. So I jumped on my motorcycle to fetch her because it was the fastest way get everyone together. We fit in as many as could squeeze in, and left within 4o minutes.

We had a lovely time with the Cunanan family, singing some of Rey's favorite songs and praying together. None of us knew how little time he had left, but he passed away only minutes after we said goodbye.

Rey lived near the mission homes and responded many a-night to emergency transport calls. He drove babies for check-ups, and greeted many new families when they came to pick up their adopted child. He also served many families with us when they lost a loved one.

He will be cremated tomorrow at the same memorial home where Dennis was, so we will be united again in prayer and song and thanksgiving. If you would remember the family in your prayers, that would be a blessing. And each of us will grieve a loss at the same time that we celebrate the gift of Rey's life.

For more on Rey, go to the HELP blog at: http://helpintlmin.blogspot.com/search?q=rey+cunanan