Nelia Soare

Nelia Soare (neé Reynoso) passed away peacefully on April 15, 2023 surrounded by her family at her side as she took her final breaths. Nelia was born in 1941 in Sariaya, Philippines to Herminia (neé Martinez) and Demetrio Reynoso. As the youngest sibling of five, she was given the name “Bonching” meaning youngest child. She spent her youth between the countryside of Sariaya and the capital Manila where she would pass the time exploring the beaches, mountains and city with her incredibly close family and cousins. With a love of literature, she studied journalism and graduated from the University of Santo Tomas.

She immigrated to Canada in 1967, as part of the Reynoso family exodus from the Philippines. She met Ion while they were both working at The Doctor’s Hospital in Kensington Market and were married in 1973 in Notre Dame Cathedral in Montreal. This June marks their 50th wedding anniversary. They settled down in North York and spent over 40 years in the same home where they raised Clea and Casimir “Kasy”. Nelia was a devoted wife and loving mother (and mother-in-law to Charlie and Jessica) and grandmother to Joseph, Justyne, Joy, Sofia and Siena, who she loved to the moon and back. Nelia instilled in her family the values of kindness and compassion and the importance of family and her Catholic faith.

The joy and love for her family was felt in the simple things: listening intently and giving sage advise over a cup of tea whenever her family was in need, laughing ebulliently with her grandchildren who she adored, preparing fruits and the unique combination of warm milk and honey when her grandchildren visited, and going on shopping sprees for the family and especially the grandkids. Most importantly, Nelia’s involvement in the church through the Legion of Mary and the Rosary Apostolate brought great fulfillment to her and in passing down the gift of faith to her entire family.

Nelia loved attending family reunions and social gatherings with the Reynoso family and close family friends. Amidst roaring laughter, they would share memories of their youth on the island nation and their experiences and adventures as newcomers. The adventures continued with Ion and her children, as they would spend countless vacations driving all across Canada and the United States. In her travels, Nelia always felt a peace and affinity with the sea, reminding her of her childhood.

The last time travelling outside of Toronto was just after the birth of her youngest grandchild when the family rented a 200-year-old cottage in Prince Edward County. Nelia remarked decades ago that once her children had grown and had families of their own, her dream would be to live together on a large plot of land in the countryside. For a moment of time in Prince Edward County, that dream was realized.

Nelia’s unwavering faith, her kindness and love will be remembered and cherished by her family and friends.

Donations in-memory can be made to Chalice (a Catholic international aid charity focused on child, family and community development- https://www.chalice.ca/donate), the Alzheimer’s Society of Toronto (https://alz.to/give/) or a charity of your choice.

Visitation will be held on Friday, April 21 at Kane-Jerrett Funeral Home (8088 Yonge St, Thornhill) from 6-8 pm. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, April 22 at 10 am at Blessed Trinity Church (3220 Bayview Ave, North York) and also available to watch via livestream. Entombment will follow the mass at Highland Memory Gardens (33 Memory Gardens Ln, North York).