Obituary of Mrs. Andreina Arayata

ARAYATA, Andreina Claudia Ortega, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at North York General Hospital from natural causes at the age of 89. Pre-deceased by her husband, Emmanuel Arayata, beloved mother of Yoli (Dante), Emma, Cynthia (Bes), Georgina (Ephraim), Ricardo (Marivin), Marissa (Albert), Manny (Laurina). Adored grandmother to Samantha, Richard, Ryan, Christina, Angelo, Josemaria, Rina, Rica, Maita, Charrie, Angela, Ashley, Alexis, and Erica. She considers her 11 great-grandchildren her precious jewels. Andreina was the only child of Ricardo & Leonila Ortega of Manila, Philippines. She was educated by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM) at Our Lady of Loreto College, a private all-girls school where she also sent all her daughters for their education. The FMM nuns and Loreto College held an incredibly special place in her heart serving the Alumni Association for many years as president, adviser, and consultant. Andreina held a degree in Bachelor of Science in Education and taught at several schools in Manila - Elpidio Quirino High School, Torres High School, and Loreto College. In 1986, Andreina reluctantly left her teaching profession, her friends, family, & other activities to come to Canada to help her youngest son, Manny (who was then a teenager) secure his permanent residence status here in Canada. Being the very resilient person that she is, she easily embraced and adapted well to the life and culture of Canada. For someone who is very social, she found working at a Hallmark store to be such great fun as it gave her the opportunity to meet and befriend people and avail of the many beautiful greeting cards that she religiously sent to her numerous friends on those special occasions and holidays. Her thoughtfulness is something that her friends will always remember her for. Shortly after, she landed a job at the head office of Bank of Montreal in the Financial District of Toronto where she retired upon reaching 65. Andreina was a woman of great faith, a daily Mass-goer, who was wholly devoted to Our Lady, her Son, and who befriended many saints in heaven – even the less known and most obscure ones. Her selfless service to the Church included being a Catechist preparing children for first confession and first Holy Communion, a lector, a member & former president of the Legion of Mary, CWL and Third Order of St. Francis. St. Michael’s Cathedral, St. Stephen’s Chapel, and St. Patrick’s Church in downtown Toronto and St. Timothy’s in North York was her regular hang-out where she was also an active volunteer. When much older, and restricted to travel on her own, you will find her glued to her I-Pad scouring the net for live-streamed Masses, Benedictions, novenas & other spiritual exercises. Andreina is a great advocate for the Sacrament of Holy Orders helping found the Fill-Ontario Seminary Scholarship Society along with Msgr. Expedito Joano and a handful of others. FOSSI provides scholarships and financial assistance to deserving young men who want to study for the priesthood. As a young lady, Andreina was a popular beauty. Her grace, elegance and charm were captivating. She was always invited to be the “Reyna Elena” at the “Santacruzan” in various towns. Santacruzan is festive procession held in the month of May that blends religion, history, and culture in honor of the Blessed Mother and the finding of the True Cross by Queen Helena, mother of Constantine the Great. The role of Reyna Elena (Queen Helena) is usually given to the prettiest and loveliest lass. It was at one of these festivals that her husband, Emmanuel, spotted her and was forever smitten. Andreina and her husband made a very good-looking pair. At the many socials of the American Embassy in Manila where her husband worked, the two would be first on the dance floor and most often come home with a prize for having the best attire/costume or having outperformed everyone on the dance floor. Her grace & charm carried through well over her senior years. She will never be caught without her coiffed hair, makeup, lipstick and of course a spritz or two of her favourite scent (a great fan of Estee Lauder). Even for doctors’ appointments and medical exams, she always made sure that she was well put together. The medical staff would often comment on how delighted they are to attend to a patient like her. Even in her more advanced years, Andreina continued to pursue her many interests. She loved to cook, sew, cross stitch, work on word puzzles & games, tend her miniature plants, and collect religious objects, and other knick-knacks. In her younger years, she would take every opportunity to travel and see new places, experience new things, try new cuisines, shop for souvenirs (mostly religious items), visit churches, cathedrals, chapels, monasteries in far-flung lands. Andreina’s numerous relatives, friends, neighbors, and associates who love and respect her will miss her with great sadness but with joy at having been a part of her life. Her family extends their heartfelt gratitude to all the doctors, nurses, and other staff members of the ICU at North York Hospital. We all salute you! For expressions of sympathy please visit https://www.ogdenfuneralhome.com/services/ We invite you to go to Andreaina’s Memorial page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/624848321439437/