Obituary of Mrs. Paula Rodrigues
RODRIGUES, Paula Eufracia, was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad on January 14th, 1954 to Naomi (nee De Freitas, deceased) and Agustine del Pino (deceased). Paula died at home, on November 5th, 2024 at the age of 70.
Paula was a devoted wife to Steve (deceased); loving mother to Renee and Monique; doting grandmother to Maleika; wonderful sister to Ingrid(deceased), Deborah, Lisa, Natalie, Hamish (deceased), Nigel, Susan and Elizabeth; caring sister-in-law to Annie and Peter Alkins, Darlene Stanley and Darryl Vivian; cherished aunt to nephews and nieces in Canada, the USA and Trinidad & Tobago.
Newly married, Paula and Steve immigrated to Canada in May 1975. Paula worked with H.A. Kidd and Company Limited, Bulk Barn Foods Limited and finally with Xerox Canada until her retirement. Although Paula worked in the corporate environment, she was a highly creative seamstress and person. Her ingenuity and strong entrepreneurial spirit encouraged her daughters to follow their unique passions.
Paula’s presence will be sadly missed by all who loved her and all whose lives she touched.
Forever Loved. Forever Missed. Now, Forever Free.
Viewing:
Monday November 11th, 2024, 5:00p.m. to 8:00p.m.
Ogden Funeral Home, 4164 Sheppard Ave. E., Scarborough, ON M1S 1T3
Funeral Mass:
Tuesday November 12th, 2024, 11:00 a.m.
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 200 Morrish Rd., Scarborough, ON M1C 1E8
Acknowledgement:
Sincere gratitude is extended to all who conveyed their support and expressions of sympathy through visits, calls, messages, cards and flowers or simply remembered us in their thoughts and prayers. Thank you. Your support is greatly appreciated by the family during our time of grief.
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Renee’s eulogy :
Well Mom, here we are. That day has arrived when I am forced to accept something unbelievably hard, something I cannot change, something that has changed me, forever. I know you would tell me, I better call on God to get me through however I’m hoping you will also stay close for a little while, as I may need you to help me find my way.
Mom, how I wish so badly for one more minute with you to simply hug you and tell you I love you, to feel your loving embrace and to have your wise assuring guidance. The thought of never getting to hear your voice again or smell the fragrance of your soft hair or feel your soft skin, leaves me feeling so empty, so lost.
This is truly the hardest moment of my adult life. Though you are gone, I know you are looking down on us so I hope you read this as this will have to be the final words I never got to share with you before you left.
Mom, you were not just any Mother. Some are cut from a different cloth and you certainly were. You were the absolute most loving, kind, nurturing mother a child could have. Truly you were the kindest soul. Your love was so deep for your godchildren and your beautiful granddaughter, that you were so very proud of. God blessed you with enough time to see the birth of Maleika and share in making some memories. Seeing my sister become a mother was such a big blessing for you and it meant the absolute world to you.
Mom, as your oldest daughter, I will say I remember seeing how much you sacrificed for both of your daughters over the years; how much pain you carried with you after losing your soulmate, my father. Yet, though the road ahead was still so long and rough to raise us and provide for us in a foreign country, you kept forging ahead, without most of your family at your side. I can only imagine how difficult it was. I cannot imagine what you felt the day my father left this earth, but you kept going, working 2 jobs at times to make sure we never went without and to help us enjoy sports and horses. Things that many kids did not have the opportunity to experience. The years passed and it took its toll, but Mom you kept moving forward in spite of so much struggle.
I know it was a lonely road to travel Mom. I truly am so grateful for all you did. I am happy in knowing that
you are finally united with our father once again and of course you will walk close to us in spirit every day, as he has for so long. However, I must be truthful Mom, in saying that I am struggling inside; such a void is left; one that will never be filled. You are irreplaceable. Mom, not only were you beautiful inside and out, you were intelligent, wise and so very kind. You were strong in a way that only God could understand as he gave you that strength. It was an inner strength that only God could provide to see you through so much struggle with us over the years. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart Mom for everything you gave up for us, for all you sacrificed so that we could have a chance at a better life and for encouraging us to dream big and to chase those dreams. To believe.
You gave up so much to support us with unconditional love, without judgment and truly were our pillar of strength and our guiding light in the darkest times. Though you yourself were struggling and hurting so much inside, you never let us see the pain or burdens you carried inside. Instead, you always listened to us patiently, you supported us and guided us. You loved us! Being a mother goes beyond bringing a child into this world, it’s about endless self sacrifice and devotion that spans a lifetime. It’s forever. It’s unconditional love. You lived for us before all else and for that Mom, I cannot thank you enough.
I love you so very much and one day I will get to hug you again. Until then, I will trust that you are back in the arms of my father. He will keep you safe until we meet again. I hope you both will dance when we are sad, shed no tears for us, as you have sacrificed enough. I will find a way to accept what I cannot change. It’s your time now to be eternally happy together. I wish for you to never feel sadness or pain but instead to feel youthful, strong and as beautiful as ever while you dance on the clouds in arms of my father once again.
Mom, please watch over Monique, who I love so dearly and your beautiful granddaughter, Maleika. Keep them safe. Protect them from all evil. Stay at their side and ensure that they walk with Angels to protect them every day.
Mom, from your oldest daughter, I will not say goodbye. I will say, until I see you again. I love you Mom and I miss you so very much.
With all my heart, forever,
Your Froggy, Renee.
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Monique’s Eulogy:
Thank you Paula Eufracia Rodrigues for creating and raising me.
For loving me only as a Mother can.
Everything I am stems from your inspiring influence.
We didn’t have a traditional or smooth story.
We had an unforgettable one.
You were not a perfect mother.
I was not a perfect daughter.
I believe I learned just as much if not more, from our mistakes than the perfections.
Your top tier sense of style, effortless grace and skilled creativity shine bright in me.
I owe all that I am to you.
I learned from your example good or bad.
Good or bad you still loved me.
Good or bad I could always call or come home.
You lived the definition of selfless love.
Your strength grew from necessity.
God gave you much to be strong from and for.
You managed two young kids in a new Country. You made it work and provided so much.
I wish I could say you left knowing I was safe and secure.
I wish I could say you saw me achieve traditional goals.
What I can say is you have seen me grow, overcome and become a better version of myself.
What I can say is I’m proud to be your daughter and will share the wisdom you gave me, with your grand daughter, Maleika.
You & Dad instilled greatness in me.
May you now watch that greatness blossom, together as my Angles above.
I know energy never ends it just changes form.
May your energy reach the highest highs uniting with all who have gone before.
I LOVE YOU MOTHER, with all my heart and all that I am. I will be okay because I am your daughter, always.
