Paula Toledo Bermudez

She was born in Caracas, Venezuela from a Venezuelan mother and a Spanish father. She had an older sister, Margarita, who is now also deceased.

She had to work since a very early age in different fields but her main employments were as Administrative Assistant Director of the Architecture Faculty at Central University in Caracas for over 20 years and later as Mortgage Broker on her own.

She loved traveling, reading and dancing and took a personal joy in supporting her husband and soul mate Dioni Bermudez Romero’s dreams.

They met just a week after her mother’s passing at the early age of 50 and as loving as my father was, he provided all the love and support she needed during that hard time. After a relatively brief courtship, they got married in a Christmas motive ceremony on December 21th, whose main attraction was a group of children –very famous by the time- singing and performing at the party, giving a Holiday touch to the event.

She was very lucky in matters of love as from that day on they had the best marriage I have gotten the opportunity to witness and even been part of as daughter. They held hands and kissed each other with profound love and respect, until the day my father passed away on January 18, 2010.

Due to my father’s profession as a Journalist, with a passion for tropical and international music, they had the opportunity to share treasurable memories with lots of famous artists of the time, like Michael Jackson, The Supremes, Julio Iglesias, Celia Cruz and many others. Then, for almost 20 years my father developed Diabetes and had an increasingly weak health. Slowly my mother gave up her life to dedicate herself fully to his care. She did so without complaining, I’m sure the nobility and gratefulness of his heart were exceptionally conducive to it.

During this time, after trying for several years, she gave birth to a girl, “me”, and I, together with my dad became the center of her world. So much that she never took care of her own health or wellbeing, until her body gave up only a week after the love of her life passed away.

For those of us who got close to her she was always sort of an Oracle to go to for advice and guidance. She had a very special way to see life well beyond the obvious or superficial; even her spirituality was profound but unique.

For some people taking care of a mother during such arduous ordeal since being diagnosed with cancer might have been too much to bear. For me it was a blessing, as only few have the opportunity to give back a little to the one who loved you unconditionally and eternally. Now she is in heaven holding hands with her love again, they will never be forgotten,

Beliza