GALLEVO, Numida Gorospe Gallevo

It is with sadness and much love that we announce the passing of our dear mom, Numida “Mida” Gallevo (nee Gorospe). She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, our dad, Lito Gallevo. She was also preceded in death by her brothers, Philip, Tony and Pete and her younger sister, Ester.  She is survived by her two sisters, Nena and Marilou and members of the Gallevo family, especially, her close in-laws, Mons and Fe.

Born in Manila, Philippines, Mida worked full-time in banking to financially support and to complete her commerce degree in the evenings. In 1968, she was introduced to Lito through mutual friends and they fell in love. In 1969, she immigrated to Canada as an independent applicant with her skills in banking and accounting in pursuit of a new and better life. Mida and Lito managed their long distance relationship by writing love letters to each other.  Mida sponsored our dad, Lito, to whom we always joked was a “mail-order groom”. Lito arrived in Canada in 1971 and they married that same year on May 22.

Mida and Lito built a home filled with hospitality, warmth, laughter, good times and the aroma of her Filipino cooking at get-togethers with family and friends. Mida was a breast cancer survivor who was grateful in living one day at a time and relying on her Catholic faith and prayer to persevere. She was an active member of the Legion of Mary, visiting the sick and aged by praying the rosary. After our dad passed away, Mida spent her last few years at Queens Estate Retirement Residence in memory care where she engaged in her hobbies, such as word search puzzles, math sheets, playing Bingo and Shut the Box, drumfit exercises and enjoying music and dance. Her personal support workers would often tell us that she was a favourite resident, always thanking them for their service and advising them, “You must enjoy your life.”

Our mom was the centre of our family, a soft spoken peacemaker, who led with patience and a kind heart, our greatest source of strength and our constant source of love and support.  Her legacy lives on through her loving daughters, Laurie (Derek) and Joanne (Alex), her cherished grandchildren, Ava, Mida, Carston and Barrett and her adopted nephews, Junior and Johnny and their respective families.