Heliodora Jose Hidalgo of Jacksonville, Florida, passed away on January 19, 2021. She was 70 years old and was born in Manila, Philippines, immigrated to the United States in 1969 and lived in Staten Island, New York; Toms River, New Jersey; Ewa Beach, Hawaii; and eventually Jacksonville.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 from 5-7 PM at Hardage-Giddens Chapel Hills Funeral Home, 850 St. Johns Bluff Rd. N., Jacksonville, FL 32225. A second visitation with Rosary will occur Thursday, January 28 from 5-7 PM with the Rosary at 6 PM at Hardage-Giddens Chapel Hills Funeral Home. Funeral Mass officiated by Father Rafael Lavilla will take place on Friday, January 29, 2021 at 11 AM at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 2400 Mayport Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32233.
Dora, as she was affectionately known, received her license as a Practical Nurse and worked in various medical facilities throughout her career including University Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida; Baptist Medical Center, Jacksonville Beach; Mayo Clinic Jacksonville; Kaiser Permanente Medical Clinic, Waipahu, Hawaii; Bethesda Naval Medical Center; Andrew Rader U.S. Army Clinic, Arlington Virginia; and the DiLorenzo TRICARE Health Clinic, The Pentagon, Washington, DC. She had a gifted hand at arts and crafts and creating jewelry, and enjoyed walking on the beach and watching sunrises. Her passions though in later life were enjoying time with her seven grandchildren and four great- grandchildren. She was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Atlantic Beach, Florida. All who were fortunate to know her, loved her.
She is survived by her husband, Frederick Hidalgo; three daughters, Beverly Tucker and her husband Scott of St. Augustine, Florida; Jennifer Cooper and her husband Chad of Charleston, South Carolina; and Cynthia Horton and her husband Jason of Rincon, Georgia; seven grandchildren, Veronica, Rebecca, Erica, Connie, Anthony, twins Julie and Jenni; and four great-grandchildren, Heliodora Rose (Ellie Rose), Joseph (Curly Joe), Arya and Chad Allen Jones (CJ). Dora is the third of eight siblings to Felipe Jose (deceased) and Violeta Garcia Jose of Stamford, Connecticut. Her sisters include Renee Zulueta (deceased), and Jocelyn Jose Guzzi and her husband Chris of Jupiter, Florida, and Dr. Jennifer Jose and her husband Frank Cappola of Stamford, Connecticut. Her brothers include Christopher (deceased), Edgar (deceased), Jonathan of Toms River, New Jersey and Joel and his wife Julie of Port Saint Lucie, Florida.
The family wishes to express sincere thanks and gratitude to Dr. Illicia Shugarman and the medical staff of the Cancer Specialist of North Florida, Jacksonville Beach; the Progressive Care Unit at Baptist Medical Center, Beaches, Jacksonville Beach; and the staff at the Anne and Donald McGraw Center for Caring, Northeast Florida Community Hospice and Palliative Care, Jacksonville, Florida, for fighting her disease with her and ensuring her comfort at the end.
