TEVES, Jesusa (Susan) Canicula  -  (April 21, 1946 - February 18, 2019)  -  It's with the greatest sorrow that we announce that the heart of our family, Jesusa (Susan) Teves, has passed quietly surrounded by her dedicated husband of close to 50 years, her devoted mother, loving kids, grandkids, and siblings.

She was the perfect balance of a fierce yet gentle woman.  A nurse who could command the respect of both co-workers and criminals with her simple kindness, Susan committed 35 years of her life to caring for our society's most unwanted members at the historied Don Jail. 

In her tenure, she spearheaded an initiative and set up a hospice network in Toronto to care for inmates dying of AIDS.  She did this fearlessly in the 80s when much was still to be learned about the disease. It is indicative of her nature, to be able to look beyond her charges' behaviour and only see people who needed care.  It instilled a sense of loyalty in The Don's inmates, inside and out on the streets of Toronto. It was not uncommon for us to to be stopped by one of her charges who would give thanks for her kindnesses and offer friendly threats for us to 'mind our mother'.

Like many of her generation, Susan bravely left her privileged life in the Philippines to strike out on her own, landing in Little Rock, Arkansas as a nurse.  Life was idyllic there for a time but a growing concern to save her newly born daughter from developing that 'country twang' propelled Susan to look northward beyond the 49th parallel to their next adventure, Toronto Canada.

It was on a whim, actually, that when our parents were settling their permanency in America that they decided to stop into the Canadian embassy to 'see what they've got to offer.'  After what was described as a lengthy sales pitch which involved a topography map to prove it was geographically the most sound spot on the planet, the Teves' soon packed up their '73 Impala and their beloved blue, punch buggy Beetle and began their trek to the land of frozen lakes and endless politeness.
Once happily nestled in the warm bosom of social democracy, our mother began laying down some roots. Their eldest, a smart and sensitive boy, was reunited with them from the Philippines and soon after, a beautiful baby girl completed the trio of siblings. 

However, it didn't stop there. Our parents became enthusiastic pitch men for Canada, convincing almost every brother, sister, and parent to leave their tropical climes and join us in Toronto.  Our mother (and father) sponsored what would bloom to be a happy clan of over 60 family members including her 3 brothers, her sister in law, all their spouses, 2 sets of parents, all the kids and grandchildren that followed.

Being the matriarch of such a sprawling family required her to be tough.  As such, her accuracy at boomeranging slippers at offending heads were and are unmatched. Yet she did it with a sense of humor that would become legendary. Such as blasting 'It's an Anne Murray Christmas' in the middle of summer, adding to the spectacle of a family of Asians in a white low rider, trolling the woods of Algonquin, in search of the perfect site to set up camp and plug in the rice cooker. 
Or, cutting out the face of one of her offspring and pasting it over the head of the brawny body of a Sunshine Boy, strategically leaving copies for all to share in its glory.  In lunch bags.  In homework pages.  Taped to the fridge with warnings of dire consequences should it be removed.
Some call it fodder for future therapy.  She would call it character building. Thanks, Mom.
But that she did.  She gave us a life filled with character.  With lessons of empathy, compassion, and the ability to see people for who and what they are - people that no matter their walk of life, they are to be loved and understood.

She had many tribulations in her life.  Many. Yet to the end, she faced it with strength, humility, and perseverance. We love her dearly and our family is heartbroken. Be with God mom, and put in a good word for us.

Visitation will be held at McDougall & Brown Funeral Home, Scarborough Chapel, 2900 Kingston Rd., Toronto, On, on Friday, February 22nd, from 2pm to 4pm and from 6pm to 9pm. Funeral Mass at St. Bartholomew's Roman Catholic Church, 59 Heather Road, Scarborough, On, on Saturday, February 23rd, at 11am. Burial Highland Memory Gardens, Toronto.

TorontoObituaries.com

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