Dear Bacani family,

I am sending you my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time and the loss of 'Tita' Rita - during my time at the McGill School of Continuing Studies, was constantly impressed and humbled by the testimonials of students who were able to persevere in their studies and careers they were passionate about thanks to the Bacani bursaries and scholarships. They made a world of difference to so many students.

But more than that was the huge hearts of the Bacani family, especially Rita. While I never had the pleasure of meeting her directly, my correspondence with her son Vince showed that empathy and paying it forward were values the whole family shared, and the student testimonials showed a woman who was kind, thoughtful, accessible, warm, and caring.

May you gain some comfort in thinking about the special memories together and know that she is still with you and so very proud of you. Sumalangit nawa ang kanyang kaluluwa.

Your friend,
  Marian


Dear Bacani Family,

I had the pleasure to hear about Ms. Bacani and her accomplishments as a student, accountant, and mother from her son at McGill's award night. As the recipient of the Rita Lumba-Bacani & Jun Bacani Scholarship, I am honoured by her generosity and dedication to supporting further education for women. I send my condolences to the Bacani family.
Take care during this difficult time.
Hayley Toivanen

Dear Bacani family:

Our family was very saddened to hear of Mrs. Bacani’s passing.  

I remember many fun and lively conversations with Mrs. Bacani since our initial meeting in 1989. We shared a mutual love of all things candy, chocolate, or otherwise unhealthy, processed foods.  We had discussed our shared passion for poor food choices (even though she always put forth a smile while showing great restraint, at least with me). 

Mrs. Bacani always had a robust laugh when confronted with funny situations.  For example, when she would call for “J” (meaning Vince), and I would answer her, she would shake her head and smile.  When I eventually learned to ignore her calling my name (realizing she meant Vince), she joked that she had conditioned me not to respond to my own name.  We shared many laughs over this and it became an inside joke.

Mrs. Bacani’s hospitality never failed, telling Vince what to get me from the fridge, what I should try, what to heat up, or discussing her culinary repertoire.  I have always felt very well received at the Bacani home; and Mrs. Bacani's warmth and humour resulted in numerous exchanges on a wide variety of topics, including politics, religion, bad jokes, education, finance, and other diverse subjects. Her perspectives were always well-supported, and often quite humourous, occasionally with a caustic edge, much like her son. 

In recent times, I regret that distance has kept us from more contact. The loss was certainly my family's. It is our sincere hope that sharing these memories remind your family and friends of the many ways in which Mrs. Bacani touched and enriched so many lives.  We send our love and warm wishes.  She will be missed. May her memory be eternal.       

Jay, Nicole and the Zakaib Family


What a beautiful tribute to your mom. I loved spending time with her when visiting you in Montreal. I especially loved the barrettes that she wore in her hair. She was one of the wisest people that I had the honour of knowing. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. 
I’m thinking of you and your dad constantly. 

Words of Comfort to the Bacani Family  From the Recipients of the Rita Lumba-Bacani & Jun Bacani Scholarship  
at McGill School of Continuing Studies (Part 4)


Dear Bacani family, 
 
I am deeply saddened to hear about Mrs. Rita Lumba-Bacani’s passing. 
 
I cannot imagine how difficult this must be for you, but please trust that my thoughts and prayers are with you. 
 
Exactly 3 years ago, I was lucky enough to be one of the recipients of the Rita Lumba-Bacani & Jun Bacani Scholarship. I cannot describe in words how deeply I was moved. Your generosity became the foundation of my dreams.  
 
I arrived to Canada nine years ago with nothing but a high school diploma. Today, I will be graduating with an Accounting BCom from one of Canada’s top business schools (Desautels Faculty of Management). In addition, I have recently received an offer for a CPA level position as Financial Analyst at the Department of National Defence. 
 
I wanted to share with you my success story because it is also Rita’s. Thank you for being part of my journey. 
 
I will always keep you and Rita in my thoughts. 
 

Yours truly, 
 
Gerry Diaz Aguiluz

Words of Comfort to the Bacani Family  From the Recipients of the Rita Lumba-Bacani & Jun Bacani Scholarship  
at McGill School of Continuing Studies (Part 3)

Dear Mr. Jun Bacani and Family, 

   Please accept my sincere and heartfelt condolences at this most difficult of times of Mrs. Rita Lumba-Bacani passing. I am very grateful for her kindness to me and other fellow students like myself. Her donation helped me to get one step closer in my path towards my CPA designation. For that, I am the most grateful. I hope that one day, I will be able to follow her example and extend the same kind of help to others. She will always be remembered as an especially giving person of great character.  
  Please accept my deepest sympathies for your loss; my prayers are with you and your children during this difficult time. 
 
With deepest sympathy, 
Ionela Suiu 


Dear members of the Bacani family,

   I was saddened to hear about the passing of Mrs. Rita Lumba-Bacani. As a recipient of the Rita LumbaBacani & Jun Bacani Scholarship at McGill University, I will always be grateful to her for her generosity and support. More than financial support, this scholarship encouraged me to keep working hard towards my goals.
   Encouragement is something we all need, and I greatly respect those who are willing to offer it. Mrs. Bacani will certainly be missed.
   Please accept my deepest sympathies during this difficult time.

Sincerely,
Rachel Côté 
Student, School of Continuing Studies
McGill University
 
 

Words of Comfort to the Bacani Family
From the Recipients of the Rita Lumba-Bacani & Jun Bacani Scholarship at McGill School of Continuing Studies (Part 2)


To the Bacani Family,

Please accept my deepest condolences on your family’s loss, my heart goes out to you during this difficult time. Mrs. Rita Lumba-Bacani’s generosity of spirit has helped so many of my fellow students along their academic paths through the scholarship she established. Her gesture of solidarity and support in form of
this scholarship had helped me complete my semester when I was the recipient for the Winter 2019 term.

I will never forget the swell of gratitude and confidence I experienced when I learned that I had been granted this gift. It not only eased financial burdens, but served as an affirmation that maybe I could indeed “do this” despite the hardships and uphill battles. These hardships and more, I later learned,
Mrs. Bacani also worked to overcome as she completed her studies at the School of Continuing Studies while working, raising a family, and studying. In this way, Mrs. Bacani’s story and scholarship inspired me to continue on, and not give up.
   
Though I did not know Mrs. Bacani personally, she remains as inspiration to me and I was very sad to learn of her passing. If any comfort can be taken from my words, please know her gesture of deep kindness to strangers such as myself will never be forgotten. 

All my best wishes,

Camille Bilinski

Words of Comfort to the Bacani Family
From the Recipients of the Rita Lumba-Bacani & Jun Bacani Scholarship at McGill School of Continuing Studies (Part 1)
 
Dear Bacani Family,
   I feel very sorry to hear the loss of Mrs. Rita Lumba-Bacani. Please accept my deep condolences on this sorrowful loss.
I had received Rita Lumba-Bacani scholarship in 2016. At that time, I was very depressed, and wanted to stop the studying. When I received the scholarship, I knew that I get support from an unknown person. Inspired by the story of Mrs Bacani, I have finished all my courses in accounting diploma in 2017, got a dreamed accounting job and now I am continuing my CPA
study.
   I want to thank for her generosity and kindness. Again, please accept my deepest sympathies to you and your family during this period of mourning.

Sincerely,
Yaping Li
 

Dear Mr. Bacani,
   I am so sorry to hear about the loss of Mrs. Rita Lumba-Bacani. She was a fantastic individual who will be greatly missed everyone who knew her. Please accept my sincere and heartfelt
condolences at this most difficult of times and please pass these feelings onto your family.
   As a recipient of the Rita Lumba-Bacani & Jun Bacani Scholarship from McGill, I truly appreciate her generosity and kindness. We have same experience of attending evening school of McGill Continuing Studies while working daytime. Her donation not only helps us financially, but also it helps in terms of confidence. Her success on family and career motivates and affects us.
   Please accept my deepest sympathies for your less.

With love,
Xiangzhu Chen

Dear Vince and family,
Our deepest condolences on your tragic loss.  What a talented and amazing person, who accomplished so much and also gave back so much to her community.  She is truly an inspiration to so many. 
We’re so sorry that you are going through all of this during this most difficult time.  You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Sarah & family 


I remember meeting Rita ten years ago on a cold call when I was working in Development & Alumni Relations at McGill, and we became “fast friends”, to quote her (verbatim).  She was so warm, welcoming, engaged, engaging, sensitive, sensible, open, and forthright.  She was also passionate about helping others – especially those who struggled (as she had) to establish or re-establish their careers later in life, while juggling jobs and families.  We worked very closely together to bring her dream to reality.  She established the first  endowed, named scholarship at McGill’s School of Continuing Studies for adult learners in Accounting & Entrepreneurship.  I feel honoured to have met this very strong and special woman.  Our relationship went deeper than a mere business transaction between a donor and a fund-raising professional.  Even after I retired from the University, we would contact each other occasionally to chat and catch up on each others’ news.  I will always remember Rita as a very dear friend.  

I have only fond memories of Rita!  Whenever I saw her she was welcoming and always had a warm smile!  Whenever I came to Montreal to visit Vince, there was always a visit with Vince's parents.  We would enjoy spending time together around a table filled with joy, laughter, good stories and good food.  I've attached a photo of one of our meals.  I loved watching Rita load up her plate and enjoy every moment.  I will always treasure those memories!  Rest in peace Rita!  You live on in our hearts forever and always.  May family and friends be comforted by all of the wonderful memories of this wonderful woman!

OBITUARY

Rita (Lumba) Bacani

14 March, 1942 – 29 March, 2020

La Maison Darche Services funéraires

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