Watch: Pleasanton Volunteer Honored With Drive-By Farewell Parade

PLEASANTON, CA — When longtime Pleasanton resident and volunteer Dorothy Van Brakel, 83, recently told neighbors she was leaving her home of 52 years to move to Nevada with her daughter, a goodbye party was off the table.

Joy Liu who said she considers Van Brakel to be "an adopted grandmother," still wanted to find a way to celebrate her neighbor. Liu, 19, started organizing a surprise drive-by parade with Van Brakel's fellow volunteers and friends.

Forty people and three dogs in 30 cars turned out for the occasion, Liu said. Loved ones honked their horns and made signs in honor of Van Brakel and her 14 years of community service.

"What's going on?" Van Brakel asked as drivers honked their horns and cars streamed past her house.

The realization hit her as she recognized familiar faces behind the wheels.

"It's a parade!" she said.

Liu said she met Van Brakel through her dog, Minnie. The three were introduced at a Pleasanton block party when Liu was 10 years old.

Van Brakel invited Liu over to her house for breakfast, dinner, holidays and coming-of-age milestones such as Liu's prom and driver's license test. Van Brakel introduced Liu to her friends, who took her in despite their age gap, Liu said.

"I often found myself at her front door during hardships, and she’d always greet me with Minnie in one hand and a grilled cheese in the other," Liu said in an email.

Van Brakel helped Liu get plugged in with a community service group, where she said she grew her skills as a filmmaker and photographer, and made connections. It's because of Van Brakel that Liu went on to study film and visual media in college.

"Who knew that 9 years would pass so quickly?" Liu said.

Though Liu will now be a state away from Van Brakel, Liu said she still plans the woman who started as her neighbor, but became family.

"Thank you Dorothy for everything you’ve done for me and the time you spent with me," Liu said.

Watch the parade below: