Paolo Guardian Ledesma

Paolo Guardian Ledesma was born in Manila, Philippines on October 30, 1971 to Loreta and Romeo Ledesma. He left this world on April 30, 2019 at the early age of 47 years old. He is survived by his wife, Jo Ann and children Maya, Hunter, and Caden, his father Romeo, mother Loreta, and brother Rex.

Paolo grew up in South Gate before residing with his family in Long Beach, California. As a boy he enjoyed making model airplanes and he always had a special talent for illustration. He graduated in 1989 from Warren High School and while attending high school, he worked as a DJ at the local Skate-a-Rama. He loved listening to Hip Hop and as a DJ, he could express his creative side through the music he played. After high school he attended Cal State Fullerton and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Arts. While attending college, he worked on campus in the Digital Print Services while simultaneously completing three art internships. He began working as a Graphic Artist when his employer, recognizing his talent as a Print Artist, offered him a chance to train to become a Motion Graphic Artist. He began working for such companies as The Cimarron Group, Open Road Entertainment, and most recently America’s Funniest Videos. He worked for AFV for three years creating the graphics for the show. He loved his work and colleagues dearly and would tell his wife Jo Ann he felt blessed to go to work there everyday.

Paolo enjoyed a lot of outdoor activities but number one for him was always his family. He enjoyed spending his free time watching his daughter play softball, and his twin boys playing basketball and karate. He first met his wife Jo Ann in a college English class at Cerritos College back in 1990. They became a couple in 1993 and spent seven years together before marrying at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church on August 5, 2000 in front of friends and family. They were soulmates and enjoyed a wonderful marriage which was only enhanced by the birth of their three beautiful children: Maya, Hunter, and Caden. Paolo was a loving and devoted father. He especially enjoyed spending time with his children go karting, bicycling, off roading, eating at In and Out, and watching Star Wars (the original movies not the new ones) and his favorite activity- shooting. Paolo began shooting at an early age and often took family and friends with him to the range as a way to share this passion. He also enjoyed barbequing for his family on the holidays and eating together as a family, watching Game of Thrones, and vacationing in Kauai. He loved to be silly and to make others laugh which he would often display with his “funny faces,” affable sense of humor, silly dance moves, and joyful laugh.

Paolo was unexpectedly taken from us by a heart attack on April 30, 2019. Paolo will be lovingly missed by his wife Jo Ann, kids Maya, Hunter, Caden, parents Romeo and Loreta, brother Rex, his children’s Godmother’s Deborah and Belinda, and god daughter Olivia. We and his entire family feel blessed to have had him for 47 wonderful years.

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave bereft
I am not there. I have not left.
-Mary Elizabeth Frye

Services for Paolo will be Friday, May 24 at St. Raymond’s Church, 12348 Paramount Blvd., Downey, CA 90242. Services will begin promptly at 10:30 with reception to follow immediately after in the parish hall.

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401