Lydia Pahilanga Pereau, 81

To view Lydia’s memorial video, please click here.

Lydia Pahilanga Pereau, 81, of Orange Park, passed away peacefully on May 5, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. Born in Bacolod, Philippines to the late Onofre and Perpetua Pahilanga, Lydia lived a life full of strength, laughter, stubborn independence, unforgettable stories, and deep love for her family.

For more than 45 years, Lydia made Orange Park her home and was a faithful member of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church. She was the heart of her family, the matriarch everyone called, depended on, laughed with, and occasionally got lovingly scolded by. Lydia fiercely loved her sons and dedicated her life to raising them into hardworking men. Growing up, the boys might say she fought with them quite a bit, but as they got older, she proudly fought for them with everything she had. No matter what life brought, her door was always open, there was always food on the table, and somehow she always found room for one more person to stay the night.

She was proud of being independent and liked doing things herself. Even when help was offered, Lydia would wave it off with her famous line, “I don’t want to bother you.” Of course, five minutes later, she would still somehow have everyone helping anyway. Lydia found joy in the little routines of life. Church on Sundays, trips to the flea market, card games with friends, Bingo nights, and family gatherings brought her happiness. She especially loved family games during the holidays, particularly the famous “money grab” game that had everyone laughing until they cried. She loved dancing, though singing was something she happily left to everyone else.

If you knew Lydia, you knew she could grow absolutely anything. She had a green thumb that amazed everyone around her. Her yard and garden were one of her greatest joys, and she proudly shared her gardening secrets with anyone willing to listen, especially her trick of putting egg shells around her plants. People would ask her how her plants looked so good, and she was always more than happy to tell them exactly why.

Lydia also cooked the kind of meals people never forget. Lumpia, pancit, adobo, dinuguan, and every other authentic Filipino dish came from her kitchen with love. And of course, there was always rice. Rice for breakfast, rice for lunch, and rice for dinner. In Lydia’s house, a meal without rice barely counted as a meal at all.

She loved her home in the Philippines and was incredibly proud of it. She always wanted family and friends to visit and experience the place and people she loved so much. Family meant everything to Lydia, whether they were nearby or across the ocean.

One thing Lydia never lacked was stories. She could start a conversation with a complete stranger and somehow still be talking to them an hour later. To know Lydia was to listen to her stories, laugh at her jokes, and hear about her life adventures, whether you planned to or not. No one stayed a stranger around her for very long.

Lydia had an old-school charm that everyone loved. She proudly owned the latest iPhone but still never fully figured out screenshots or messenger apps. She still wrote checks to pay her bills because, honestly, that system worked just fine for her. She loved her beautiful Asian-inspired furniture and made sure her sons always had pieces from her home when they first moved out on their own.

Lydia was preceded in death by the father of her children, Keith Pereau; her beloved dogs, Rocky and Princess; and her siblings, Thelma P. Moneva, Aida R. Pahilanga, and Walter R. Pahilanga, all of whom held a special place in her heart.

She leaves behind a family who will forever carry her love, lessons, humor, traditions, and strength with them: her sons, Frank (Joy) Pereau, Keith (Edlyn) Pereau, Kirk (Tiffany) Pereau, and Donald Pereau; her surviving siblings, Anita P. Virayo, Gilda P. Sagansay, Edna R. Pahilanga, and Jocelyn P. Olano; her grandchildren, Jordan, Jasmine, Isabella, Charlotte, Josephine; and her great-grandson, Jackson.

The family finds comfort knowing that Lydia’s stories will continue to be told, her recipes will continue to be made, her plants will continue to grow, and her love will continue to live on in all the people she cared for so deeply. She will be missed beyond words and remembered with laughter, warmth, and so much love.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, May 16, 2026, in the chapel of Russell Haven of Rest Funeral Home with burial to follow at Russell Haven of Rest Cemetery. A visitation will begin at 10:00 AM prior to services.

Arrangements are under the care of Russell Haven of Rest Funeral Home. Family and friends may share condolences at RHRFH.com