Wilfredo "Sonny" Gomez Piczon

Wilfredo "Sonny" Gomez Piczon

April 8, 1949- January 7, 2024

Wilfredo Piczon, age 74, of Elk Grove, California, passed away peacefully on January 7, 2024. He was a very loving and generous brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, godfather, and friend.

He was born in Simala, Sibonga, Cebu, Philippines on April 8, 1949 to Conrado Piczon Sr. and Angeles Gomez, and was the fourth out of nine children. He was lovingly named Sonny as he was born in sunny April.

He spent his childhood in Cebu in their ancestral home in front of a beach. As a child he enjoyed singing and boxing.  He went to a Science High School for his love of electronics and Math. He then moved to Cebu City and earned his Bachelor of Science in Commerce with a major in Accountancy at University of San Carlos.

After graduation, he moved to Makati, Metro Manila for his first job at Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) Co. He worked as an Internal Audit Supervisor and PLDT Employees Credit Cooperative Association (PECCA) Supervisor and traveled frequently throughout the Philippines until he retired in 1997.  He made strong, lifelong friendships as he infused fun at work, and joined every sport possible- track, basketball, volleyball, darts, and chess and had trophies for each of them! It was his PLDT friends that gave him the nickname of "Willy", and it was in PLDT where he met his wife Edith Reyes.

Willy and Edith got married in 1976, and resided in Sta. Cruz, Manila. After two years, their son Wilberto Enrico (Eric) was born, followed by Eloisa Wilmina (Loi) in 1979. As a family, they also lived briefly in Quezon City and then finally in Sucat, Parañaque. His family kept traditions through the years such as Visita Iglesia, (visiting fourteen churches every Holy Week), went to Luneta Park to get fresh air after New Year's Eve's fireworks, attending early 6am masses at Quiapo church, wrapping of textbooks as a whole family when school began, and buying mostly educational games. The Piczons loved takeouts, big gatherings, singing, and dancing. He and his wife strived to give the best catholic education to his children Eric and Eloisa.

In 1997, Sonny retired from PLDT and migrated to the bay area to join his parents and siblings. He worked at Stanford University until his second retirement. His son migrated in 1999, daughter in 2001, and wife in 2002.

The Piczon family soon grew with the marriage of their daughter Eloisa to Jay Javier.  Willy moved to Sacramento then Elk Grove, CA starting in 2015 with his beloved grandchildren Joaquin and Noah.  His grandchildren fondly called him Lolo (Grandfather) Papa. He loved spending time with his grandchildren be it through road trips, visiting museums, playing board games or chess, watching movies, and the list goes on. He was the coolest and funniest lolo!

He was elated to witness his son Eric's ordination to priesthood in 2018. Since then, he referred to his son as Father. He cherished every moment he would see Fr. Eric not only as his son but also as his spiritual advisor.

He was a jolly person full of jokes that made friends happy and loved his company. His hobby was singing Matt Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Jack Jones, and never ran out of beautiful stories of memories to share with his relatives and friends.  He played chess incessantly and loved shopping for the greatest deals online and from thrift stores. He would never say no to karaokes.

He was often perceived as carefree and easy going, but we all knew that he constantly thought and cared for his wife, children, grandchildren, relatives and friends.

His last stage of life was focused primarily in getting closer to God , trying not to miss first Saturday Immaculate Virgin Mary devotion by attending mass personally or online,  going to confession, evangelization, and enrollment in the Legion of Mary and Militia Immaculatae.

Sonny is survived by his wife of 47 years, Edith, his two children, Rev.  Fr. Eric, and Eloisa (married to Jay), two grandsons Joaquin and Noah, and five siblings Evelyn, Lou, Ellen, Dodo, and Lyndon.

Sonny was preceded in death by his parents Conrado and Angie, his siblings Roger, Junior, and Allan.

To God be the glory. May Sonny rest in peace.