Obituary of Luningning Genabe Bernardino
It is with great sadness that we announce that our resilient, caring, loving Mama, Lola, Grandmama, Tita, Luningning Genabe Bernardino has passed away peacefully in her home on Tuesday June 9, 2026 surrounded by her family. She was 100 years old.
Luningning was born in Pola, Or. Mindoro, Philippines on April 19, 1926 and was the sixth of ten children. She completed her studies at Far Eastern University, earning a Bachelors of Science in Education. After graduation, she began her teaching career in Pola, eventually moving to Marikina to teach at Boys Town. It was here where she met her husband, Segundino, and raised their eight children. New opportunities brought her to working at the Department of Reforestation, where she generously donated seedlings to beautify Marist School, an all boys Catholic school attended by three of her sons, and one grandson. She later returned to Boys Town to work as a property custodian until immigrating to Canada on October 30, 1981. She quickly began working odd jobs to help support her family. At one point, she even worked at a Filipino craft store in Kingston Ontario as a sales person. She then ended up working as an employee at Laura Secord in Toronto until retirement. Oh how sweet and chocolatey it was!
As early as her childhood, it was clear that Luningning was a determined, powerful woman. She overcame many illnesses; and as she got older she went against her parents’ wishes by moving to Marikina and marrying an “outsider”. One would say that she walks to the beat of her own drum. When raising her children, she promoted equality, assigning the same chores to all regardless of gender. It was in the family home where she truly shined. Often referred to as the “glue” she filled the house with music, dancing, laughter, and amazing food, ensuring that holiday gatherings would bring everyone together, and leave everyone feeling full. In her free time, she enjoyed crocheting doilies, going to the casino, collecting things from outside to grow, (pinching plants that interests her) gardening, and naming plants after those who gifted them to her. She also loved to travel, always with families, around Canada or the US. By travelling to the Philippines, Texas, California and Tennessee she maintained bonds with her friends. She also made quick connections with everyone she met, ultimately gaining us a new “relative” eventually calling her “Mama”. We were able to take her on a short cruise at age 99 and she truly enjoyed that trip, especially meeting all the Filipinos on board. She would always look for her special wheelchair “driver”, TJ. Above all else, she loved her family and she loved God. Luningning was a devout Catholic, starting her day praying for all those departed, and all of her loved ones who were still on this earth and ending her day with the rosary and novena. She often quoted prayer as being the magic that kept her going for so long.
Luningning will never leave the house without her hair properly styled and with makeup on. In her later years she always enjoyed her quarterly that then became a monthly mani-pedi. Anyone who would see her always say that she looks younger than her age. Some friends and people she met would describe her as spunky, loves life, strong and has so much zest for life.
Luningning is predeceased by her husband Segundino, her daughter Aarne (Alex), and her granddaughter Shilo (Armin T). She will be greatly missed by her children Arnold, Arline, Aaron
(Julita), Ariadne (Mike), Arthur, Armin (Rowena), and Araceli (David); her grandchildren Ron Dihno, Jenzo (Daniel), Don Qarlo, Luke, Casey, Kirsten (Benny), Khyle, Rafael, Max, Caitlin and Michael; her great grandchildren Audrina, Mila, Aiden, Mya, Jor-El, Kal-El, and Noël; as well as the many members of her extended family.
The family would like to thank the PSWs from VHA Home Health: especially Ofelia, Annie, Dorothy, Dharma, as well as her physiotherapists, Shikha, Nick & Aisah Reyes. We would also like to thank the staff at 3D Cardiology at SHN-Birchmount Hospital especially her nurses, Jade Tolentino, Kayla, Anthony, Lee, Joan, Chun & Ryan and Drs. Cheah, Lee, Kwok & Paletta. We also want to thank her Palliative team, Dr. Michael Borchuk, Dr. Arielle Brickman, Raveena & Yasi. We appreciate their support, utmost care, and friendship; the immense hard work and compassion they offered Luningning during her final weeks.
