Dante Thomas Daniel Arellano

Dante Thomas Daniel Arellano was born in Monterey Park, California, on Sunday, February 27, 1977. He was the oldest son to Daniel and Alice Arellano, and big brother to Ciara Iverson, Royale Jareno, Danielle Moralez, and Damian Arellano. Dante had a large family and was the oldest of 24 grandchildren. Dante loved the Lord Jesus and received Him as his Savior when he was a young man. He grew in the knowledge and faith of his Lord Jesus at Faith Chapel, Bethel Heritage Church, and Calvary Church in Albuquerque.  

Dante was raised in the East Mountains of Tijeras, New Mexico. In his younger years, Dante enjoyed learning how to garden with his mom, drive the family's Massey-Ferguson Tractor named “Big Red”, and learned all kinds of trades from his dad. He was a sweet and helpful big brother to his four siblings who loved playing with him. Dante was creative and enjoyed cooking for his siblings, working in the garage, playing in the dirt, and riding bikes. He was an avid collector of stamps, coins, and cards and acquired an impressive collection. As a boy scout, he learned important life skills, earning him badges for his uniform. He mastered driving the tractor and put to use many implements to clear several feet of snow that fell in the winter. He would also till and prepare the dirt for the garden. With the tractor, he built his own BMX racetrack in the backyard, where he practiced for his competitive BMX races, which he competed in for several years. He was very fast on the bike and good at jumping hills, which won him many trophies. 

Dante excelled at playing the piano, and showcased his skillful hands in competitions, school talent shows at Roosevelt Middle School, and piano classes at Manzano High School. Most notably, he played Beethoven’s Fur Elise beautifully and could serenade anyone with the music he would play. His family loved hearing him practice and were very proud. 

Dante’s tender heart, easy-going personality, and ability to connect with people from many backgrounds, gained him popularity at Manzano High School. Naturally, Dante was good at math, science, and chemistry, and was an excellent student who always brought home good grades. In high school, he was known for being well dressed and sporting the coolest new style. He easily won over many hearts with his charm. This stellar combination of traits crowned him “Homecoming King”, by way of votes from his peers. This made his parents tremendously proud. He enjoyed dancing in many different forms from break dancing and percussion stepping and taught what he learned to his siblings. For many years, he studied Ballet Folklorico and loved dancing Salsa socially. He performed in many public shows around Albuquerque with the dance group, Baila Baila. 

On Saturdays, he could be found at gun and knife shows, car shows, and rock and mineral shows with his dad Daniel and brother Damian. The day wasn’t complete without a stop at Helen’s Bakery for a bowl of menudo which became a tradition. He also enjoyed treasure hunting with his mom at estate sales on the weekends, and occasionally would appease his dad by accompanying him to an Arts and Crafts show. Although very casual in nature, there was something about being in a suit that made Dante feel exceptional. He loved being dressed up on the weekends, or for church and family gatherings. Dante loved the beach, and spent extended periods of time in Hawaii, where he worked on home improvement projects and enjoyed the water and picturesque sunsets. 

He was a loving big brother by showing up in parking lots and on the side of the road to assist his sisters when a tire went flat, or a car battery went dead. It was his compassionate character that compelled him to keep shoes and clothing in his work van for any less fortunate person he may have encountered. He had a big heart for his family and friends and his kindness shone through in many ways. 

Even though it could be tough to work alongside his dad, Dante took what he learned and made that his trade. For many years, Dante worked at Right Way Roofing with his dad and Uncle John, learning the trade of roofing and later became a salesman. Dante went on to have his own business, Handyman Plus, where he showcased his knowledge and skill in home repair. He took pride in his work, being tremendously meticulous, and striving for excellence with each job. He produced outstanding, quality work for his customers in painting, and any other type of repair or renovation. From fixing a leaky faucet, to building a custom deck, Dante’s skills were admirable. His workmanship built a long standing client list and many friendships. 

In Dante’s Bible we see Hebrews 11:6 highlighted, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” His mother, sisters, nephews, and nieces, love and miss him dearly, and the memory of his precious life will be a blessing upon every remembrance. We will one day see him again because of the promise we have as believers in Jesus Christ, The Righteous, the hope of glory. 

“Verily,verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” ~ Jesus (John 6:47)