Maria Esperanza Motus Parco (Maritza) Edwards passed away peacefully at home in Portland, Oregon on Friday, November 6, 2020, surrounded by her husband, four children and two grandchildren. Maritza was born on October 6, 1951 in Iloilo City, Western Visayas, Philippines. Raised by loving parents and a large extended family, she was one of five siblings. Educated in Kalibo, Aklan and Iloilo City, she received her Bachelor's degree in English Literature from the University of St. Augustin in Iloilo. Maritza was blessed with the birth of daughters Daniella (Joy) in 1974 and Ruby in 1975. Dick entered her life in 1979, a young Peace Corps Volunteer assigned to Aklan. They were married in 1980 in Baguio City, Philippines, and their sons Joseph and John were born in 1984 and 1987, respectively. Dick and Maritza celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on October 6, 2020 in Portland.
Maritza's life was centered on her family, but she also served as an educator and volunteered to help those less fortunate while serving abroad. Dick and Maritza led a life of adventure as his foreign service career took them and their children to live in several developing countries, including the Philippines, Morocco, India, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea and Fiji before retiring in Oregon. Wherever they went, Maritza quickly established a warm and loving home, made lifetime friends and was always the consummate hostess. She was passionate about cooking and spoiled her family and friends with her delicious culinary adventures. She loved to travel, and she and Dick explored much of Europe, Asia, Northern Africa, the U.S. and Latin America, often joined by friends and relatives.
Maritza embodied an infectious sense of joie de vivre which brought joy to all that knew her. A poet at heart, she treasured good books, films, photography, music and art and worked hard to share these finer sensibilities with her children and husband. She was an avid gardener, creating beautiful landscapes for all their homes. She loved her dogs and enjoyed bird and whale watching. A certified scuba diver, she explored the coral reefs of the Philippines, Maldives, the Pacific Islands and the Red Sea. She transformed their vision of a life on the Oregon coast to reality, with the completion of their new home there in 2015.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.skylinememorialgardens.com for the Edwards family.
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