Evelina de Jesus passed away peacefully on Friday, January 3, 2020 in Calgary, Alberta at the age of 86 years. Born June 2 of 1933 in Maracaibo, Venezuela, she was the first-born child of Manuel Angel and Maria Altagracia. Evelina studied Medicine at the University of Zulia, were she graduated with honors and was the only female in her class. She later went on to become a pediatrician.
She finished a fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1976. Evelina was the first and only pediatric endocrinologist in her home town of Maracaibo for many years. Several generations of children, now adults and even their children received her care. Much of her professional career was in the public service at the University Hospital of Maracaibo, where the sixth floor of the Pediatric wing bears her name since 2010.
She was an active member of the Venezuelan Pediatric Society, the Venezuelan Endocrine Society, the Zulia Academy of Medicine and the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society of the United States. As a scholar, she taught medical students and residents for over 25 years at the University of Zulia. She received numerous awards and recognitions along her career until she retired in 2011.
Being the eldest of five siblings she looked after them and was the bastion that kept them together. Evelina deeply loved her family, enjoyed very much the company of all her siblings, loved her patients and was passionate about her work. In her spare time, she enjoyed traveling and visiting new places around the world.
Evelina was married to Ramon Chacon for 25 years and together they had 6 children. While continuing to develop her professional career, with Ruth’s help, she raised her children providing them with her love and her example of integrity and hard work.
In 2012, given the political environment in Venezuela, she was forced to leave her beloved homeland. She moved to Calgary with her daughter and other members of her family. Here, she was able to enjoy more time with her children and grandchildren but missed the company of her beloved siblings.
She will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by her children, Joel, Nathalie, Dafne, Inara, Luis, and Carlos; her sons and daughters-in-law, Mayret, Angel, Gerardo, Sharon and Marisela; her grandchildren Tomas, Alejandro, Isabella, Beatriz, Sebastian, Nicolas, Alejandra, Benjamin, Sofia, Luis Jr., Samuel, Andrea, Carlos Jr.; her siblings and their spouses Nola, Teotiste, Manuel Antonio, Mary, Luis and Ana. Also left to mourn Evelina is her dear life-long friend and nanny of her children, Ruth Effer, and exchange student become daughter Tracy Schauer, who both became dear members of her big family.
Evelina was, in her name, consecrated to Jesus. In a subtle caress and sign of the love of God, Evelina de Jesus passed away on the feast of the Name of Jesus, which was also the first Friday of the month, the day dedicated to remembering the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a devotion which gave origin to her name.
A Prayer Service will be held at Foster’s Garden Chapel, 3220 – 4 Street N.W., Calgary, Alberta (across from Queen’s Park Cemetery), on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at 7:00 P.M.
A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Luke’s Catholic Parish, 1566 Northmount Dr NW, on Thursday, January 9, 2020 at 11:00 A.M. with Interment to follow at Queen’s Park Cemetery.
As a Pediatric Endocrinologist, Evelina would have appreciated anyone considering a memorial donation in her name, to make it directly to the Alberta Children’s Hospital or Diabetes Canada.
The family would like to extend their deepest thanks to all the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Newport Harbor Care Centre and Bethany Calgary for their comfort and their compassionate care.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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