Arnel Josè Sumabat

Arnel Josè Punla Sumabat, 65, passed away peacefully from an unexpected stroke at Providence Hospital in Everett, Washington on May 19, 2025. He was surrounded by his loved ones during his final moments. Arnel maintained his optimism, resilience, sense of humor, and enduring love and devotion for his family through the very end.

Arnel was born on June 22, 1959, in the Philippines, to Restituto and Virginia Sumabat as the fifth of nine children. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1978, and attended Trinity College there, eventually immigrating to the United States at the age of 21, where he studied at Bellevue Community College and St. John’s University. He was an avid learner and loved to read, devouring the entire encyclopedia, from A-Z, for pleasure. His passion for life encompassed many interests and hobbies, above all spending time with his loved ones. He won a talent show on TV singing with a group of friends, played the guitar, listened to a wide and eclectic library of music, and was a car enthusiast. He enjoyed competitive games of basketball–regularly playing with men half his age– and on the court, he bonded with his younger brothers, their mutual friends, and his nephew. He walked his sister to work while they lived together in Downtown Seattle. He was always on hand to help a sibling move, or to assist with a random project. He loved to cook and instilled this in his daughters, passing on the family’s legacy of ‘expressing love through food and cooking’ for their loved ones. His enthusiasm for sports extended to cheering for his favorite Seattle teams, which he did, with family. His wicked sense of humor, sometimes off-colour, guaranteed laughter to those in his company. His devotion for family went beyond the living; for five years after his father’s passing, Arnel visited his dad’s resting place weekly to brush and clean the headstone, to remove dead flowers and water the fresh arrangements set there by his mother and other loved ones, until at his wife’s gentle behest to cease. It was ‘Family’ that defined and shaped his life. To his loved ones, Arnel was known to be kind-hearted, generous with his time, diplomatic, a peacekeeper; he refused to hold grudges, and rarely said unkind words about others.

Arnel was a loving fiancè, devoted son, caring father, and ever-constant sibling. He is survived by his children Reeio Sumabat (Reeio’s partner Kenneth Redd III), and Denise Sumabat (Denise’s fiancée Morgan Mortenson); his fiancèe and childhood sweetheart, Joy Kuffel; his first wife Tracie Allen (his children’s mother); his mother Virginia; his siblings Ron (Rose), Ferdinand (Charo), Susan, Edgar (Mheshel), Bing (Bob), Kim (Rose), Joey (Lisa) and Tim (Amy), in addition to countless nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, other relatives, and friends that will miss him dearly. He was preceded in death by his father Restituto “Resty”, and his second wife, Debbie.

We find comfort in knowing that Arnel’s legacy lives on in his kindness, undying optimism and resilience, the love that he spread to his family and friends, and the memories we will cherish forever.

A celebration of Arnel’s life will be held on Saturday, May 31st, 2025 at a private residence.