Honoring & Mourning the Life of Juan Pablo Gutiérrez
Dear Casa Bernabé Family,
We write to you today with heavy hearts, a need for your prayers, and a deep trust in the comfort of our Lord.
It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Juan Pablo Gutiérrez, who served as the beloved house dad in Casa Daniel for the last six years. Juan Pablo went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, January 1st, following a brief, acute illness and surgery. He was laid to rest today surrounded by many devoted friends and family. His death was sudden and unexpected, and the grief is deeply felt across our entire community. We want to share this difficult news with you and invite you to walk with us in prayer during this time of loss.
Juan Pablo was 43 years old and had served faithfully as a house parent alongside his wife, Dennise, since 2020. Together, they poured their lives into the boys of Casa Daniel, loving them, playing with them, guiding them, and modeling the heart of a father to children who had already experienced deep loss. To these boys, Juan Pablo was not just a caregiver; he was Dad.
Juan Pablo and Dennise had recently completed their season as house parents at the end of 2025 and were prayerfully planning their next chapter. Dennise is preparing to return to her work in the Casa Bernabé school, where she had served prior to becoming a house mom. They were looking ahead with hope, raising their precious four-year-old daughter, Abi, and trusting God with what was next. This loss comes at a moment when new beginnings were just unfolding.
We ask you to join us in fervent prayer:
For Dennise and Abi, that the Lord would surround them with his peace, comfort, and provision
For Juan Pablo’s parents, brother, and sister, as they mourn the loss of a beloved son and brother
For the boys of Casa Daniel, who have lost the man they have known as their father for the last six years
For the new house parents in Casa Daniel, who are stepping into their roles while now helping the boys navigate deep sorrow
For the entire Casa Bernabé community—children and staff alike—who knew and loved Juan Pablo and are mourning together
Scripture reminds us, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). We cling to this promise today. While we grieve, we also give thanks for Juan Pablo’s life, his faithfulness, and the lasting impact of his love. Though his life was shorter than we wish, he lived it full of love and service to the glory of God and the good of others. His legacy lives on in the hearts of the children he served and in the hope he helped restore, and though he may not have lived to see the fruit of his work here on earth, we know Juan Pablo is now receiving a heavenly reward for the eternal investment he made with his life.
Thank you for standing with Casa Bernabé in prayer and mourning with those who mourn. We are grateful to walk this journey together, trusting in a God who brings light even in our darkest valleys.
With gratitude and hope in Christ,
Emily Tuttle, Board Chair
On behalf of Friends of Children Everywhere