Obituary for Loida Lapatha
Loida Gonzaga Lapatha was called to come home to be with her personal Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on October 29th at 12:29 pm. She died with her loving daughter Lois Principe & sister in law Hope Pabon by her side. She passed away at Concordia Hospital at the age of 87.
Loida was born in Victorias Negros Occidental in the Philippines, and was the 6th oldest in a family of 13 children. She grew up in a Christian home, a faith that she kept all her life and passed on to her daughters and grandchildren.
On May 1, 1967 she was blessed to marry her husband Apollo. They shared many joys together as well as raising their two daughters in the Philippines, United States and Canada.
She started her career as a 5th grade teacher at J.J. Gonzaga Elementary School in the Philippines and served as a food service worker in the Children’s Hospital of Orange County in California. Loida and her family were sponsored into Winnipeg, Canada in 1990 by her sister in law Stella Lapatha and she retired as a child care worker in 1999 at the Peek-A-Boo Infant Child Care centre. A job she enjoyed very much. She was the best Lola to her grandsons Christian, Callen and Etienne. She loved them with all her heart imparting on them the importance of faith and education.
When asked during a family vacation in 2019 about an old photo of her wearing a cowboy hat, Loida shared that as a young girl, she dreamed of being a cowgirl. This story brought great smiles and joy as she told of her life growing up in the Philippines and the special legacy of faith, education and business inherited from her father. Ever the witness to share the love of Jesus, Loida was a kind, quiet, devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. Her prayers for others were numerous and heartfelt.
Loida pre-deceased by her husband Apollo will be missed by her daughters Lois (Gamaliel), Grace (Steve) and her grandchildren, Christian, Callen, Etienne, and the extended Lapatha and Pabon family.
Siblings left to cherish her memory are Mrs. Noemi G. Cafifge, Mrs. Nerissa G. Faris, Mrs. Merle G. Bonghanoy, Mrs. Erlinda G. Faldas, Mrs. Josette G. Castro, Mrs.Edda G. Walker and Mrs. Rose G. Golden.
Together with Jesus, the saints and the angels, Loida was greeted with open arms by those who preceded her: husband Apollo Lapatha, father Jose Jalandoni Gonzaga , mother Encarnacion Pamplona Apdol Gonzaga, and her siblings Mr. Ephraim Gonzaga, Mrs. Ofelia G. Magapan, Mrs. Febe G. Javier, Mr. Abner Gonzaga, and Mrs. Lorelei G. Saril.
The family wishes to thank the staff for the care that was provided to Loida during her last few hours on earth at Concordia Hospital. Although the family grieves her absence from her earthly body, the family has the hope of Heaven, a hope that they will see each other again. This is not where it ends –--- it’s “Bwas naman, Lody ” (see you tomorrow Lody) –--- it’s “Lakat na kami Me” (we’re going now mom) --- it’s “See you later Lola”. It’s not goodbye.
“…and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me a crown of righteousness…”
2 Timothy 4:6-8
Loida was born in Victorias Negros Occidental in the Philippines, and was the 6th oldest in a family of 13 children. She grew up in a Christian home, a faith that she kept all her life and passed on to her daughters and grandchildren.
On May 1, 1967 she was blessed to marry her husband Apollo. They shared many joys together as well as raising their two daughters in the Philippines, United States and Canada.
She started her career as a 5th grade teacher at J.J. Gonzaga Elementary School in the Philippines and served as a food service worker in the Children’s Hospital of Orange County in California. Loida and her family were sponsored into Winnipeg, Canada in 1990 by her sister in law Stella Lapatha and she retired as a child care worker in 1999 at the Peek-A-Boo Infant Child Care centre. A job she enjoyed very much. She was the best Lola to her grandsons Christian, Callen and Etienne. She loved them with all her heart imparting on them the importance of faith and education.
When asked during a family vacation in 2019 about an old photo of her wearing a cowboy hat, Loida shared that as a young girl, she dreamed of being a cowgirl. This story brought great smiles and joy as she told of her life growing up in the Philippines and the special legacy of faith, education and business inherited from her father. Ever the witness to share the love of Jesus, Loida was a kind, quiet, devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. Her prayers for others were numerous and heartfelt.
Loida pre-deceased by her husband Apollo will be missed by her daughters Lois (Gamaliel), Grace (Steve) and her grandchildren, Christian, Callen, Etienne, and the extended Lapatha and Pabon family.
Siblings left to cherish her memory are Mrs. Noemi G. Cafifge, Mrs. Nerissa G. Faris, Mrs. Merle G. Bonghanoy, Mrs. Erlinda G. Faldas, Mrs. Josette G. Castro, Mrs.Edda G. Walker and Mrs. Rose G. Golden.
Together with Jesus, the saints and the angels, Loida was greeted with open arms by those who preceded her: husband Apollo Lapatha, father Jose Jalandoni Gonzaga , mother Encarnacion Pamplona Apdol Gonzaga, and her siblings Mr. Ephraim Gonzaga, Mrs. Ofelia G. Magapan, Mrs. Febe G. Javier, Mr. Abner Gonzaga, and Mrs. Lorelei G. Saril.
The family wishes to thank the staff for the care that was provided to Loida during her last few hours on earth at Concordia Hospital. Although the family grieves her absence from her earthly body, the family has the hope of Heaven, a hope that they will see each other again. This is not where it ends –--- it’s “Bwas naman, Lody ” (see you tomorrow Lody) –--- it’s “Lakat na kami Me” (we’re going now mom) --- it’s “See you later Lola”. It’s not goodbye.
“…and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me a crown of righteousness…”
2 Timothy 4:6-8