Zenaida Pura Ocol

Zenaida was the daughter of Daniel and Visitacion Pura and was the eldest of 6 siblings: Romeo Pura, Lilia Villajin, Rafael Pura, Leticia Hipolito and Lillibeth Pura.

In 1976, she moved to Vancouver, Canada to marry her love, Arnaldo Ocol. She is succeeded by her 3 children: Dennis, Christine and JR Ocol and her cat, Spumante.

Growing up as the big sister and matriarch in her family, Zenaida knew the importance of keeping family together in Canada. It started when her and her husband sponsored her widowed mother and 2 youngest sisters. They also sponsored his sister's children, Josephine Reuter, Liza and Ruben Tongo to live with them in Vancouver. From there, both Pura and Ocol families continued to grow exponentially.

As a generous and faithful devotee to her Catholic Christian faith, she was an active member at St. Mary's Parish for several years. She would sing for mass, help feed those who were hungry and prayed over those in need. She had also participated in Pilgrimages to Europe, Africa and Asia.

Zenaida fought a long battle with diabetes and then heart failure throughout the later stages of her life. Although her volunteer work and involvement in the community had to be put on hold due to her health, she never lost her faith in God and continued to pray and support those she loved.

The family invites you to share your memories, videos or photos with her in the memoriam below...

She Is Gone by David Harkins

You can shed tears that she is gone.

Or you can smile because she has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back.

Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her.

Or you can be full of the love that you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday.

Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember her and only that she is gone.

Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back.

Or you can do what she would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.