On Thursday, January 14, 2021 at 4:34am, Genoveva Serrano, known as “Benny”, a mother, grandmother, great grandmother and sister passed away peacefully in her sleep at age 83. She will be forever remembered by her 10 children, 22 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, 10 siblings and her numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
Born in the beautiful rural province of San Nicholas, Batangas, Philippines on January 3, 1938 (legally January 17, 1938) to Rufina Villanueva and Graciano Comia, she was a homemaker all her life. Married to Cosme Serrano in 1954 they had 10 children together. She was widowed in 1989 when Cosme passed away at the young age of 54. Benny raised her 10 children and cared for her 22 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren all the years to follow.
Children:
Rudolfo Serrano,
Wilma Valencia,
Myrna Serrano,
Reynaldo Serrano,
Marissa Landicho,
Nectar Serrano,
Gina Serrano,
Mylene Serrano,
Liezel Serrano,
Ricky Serrano
Grandchildren:
Rhos John Serrano,
Rhos Joel Serrano,
Rhos Joy Serrano,
Anne Marie Valencia,
Analyn Valencia,
Maria Natalie Canlubo,
Diomar James Landicho,
Marco Landicho,
Maryjo Landicho,
Reymond Serrano,
Reynamae Serrano,
Reynaldo Jr Serrano,
Kimberly Catapang,
Bridgette Catapang,
Paul John Catapang,
Keithlynne Jurado,
Justin Jurado,
Juslyne Jurado,
Kayla Serrano,
Katrina Serrano,
Katie Serrano,
Kyle Serrano,
Great Grandchildren:
Stanley Serrano,
Aaron Valencia,
Maya Dagasdas,
Makayla Dagasdas
Benny was a dedicated mother first and foremost. She treasured her children and embraced every moment with them. She cherished her family being together but due to opportunities to go to another country, her 3 daughters; Wilma, Myrna and Marissa along with her sister Merlita, left for Spain in 1982. Her whole family was then reunited in Canada in 1993 all but her eldest son, Rudy, who stayed to be with his own family in the Philippines. As her children started to have their own families she helped care for all her grandchildren. She loved her role as grandma and great grandma.
She enjoyed travelling, sewing, watching action movies even if it was in Chinese and she didnt understand a word, driving around and exploring parks, camping in tents every summer and going to garage sales in the early mornings on weekends! She loved watching baseball with her favourite team being the Blue Jays. As quiet and reserved as she was, you will definitely hear her yell at the players when they were losing! She enjoyed playing BINGO with her grandchildren and going fishing. She explored the world with her sister, Merlita, having visited Germany, Switzerland, Paris, Netherlands, Greece, London and with her children and grandchildren having visited Florida, New York, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Las Vegas. Every year she spent almost half the year in her favorite place, her home, Philippines.
She was beautiful, genuine, nurturing, kind hearted and everyone was always drawn to her. She was quiet and always had a smile on her face. She was demure, sweet and gentle that sitting with her without speaking a word would feel so comfortable, relaxing and warm.
She was the center, the rock and the glue of her big family. Family was everything to her. Having her family of 40 together every weekend was a family ritual. With almost 20 of her children and grandchildren living in a few block radius from her as well as having one of her sons, Reynaldo, living right next door, it was a celebration every day and an even bigger celebration every weekend when they were all together. She especially loved travelling to Dominican Republic last Christmas with 30 of her family members all on the plane together. She was the most happiest when her family in Canada was reunited back with her eldest son in the Philippines in 2017.
With the loss of her eldest son, Rudy, just 2 weeks prior to her own passing, they are now reunited again along with her husband after so many years in heaven above.
Visitation will be held on January 19, 2021 at 2:00 pm at Kane-Jerrett Funeral Homes, 6191 Yonge Street, Toronto. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 restrictions, visitations and the funeral service are strictly limited to immediate family only. Funeral Service will be held on January 20, 2021 at 9:00 am at Kane-Jerrett Funeral Homes, 6191 Yonge Street, Toronto.
Webcasting will be held on January 20, 2021 from 8am-10am to watch the service. Cremation will be held on January 20, 2021 at Forest Lawn Crematorium.
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