Teresa McMullen

McMullen, Teresa (nee Villabona Rondón), October 22, 1939 - June 10, 2024. Following over a decade living with Alzheimer’s Teresa passed away peacefully on June 10, 2024 at Victoria’s Royal Jubilee hospital after a short illness.

Teresa was born in 1939 in the village of Charta, Colombia, to Ernesto Villabona and Benilda Rondón, Teresa was the youngest of seven siblings. The Villabona Rondón family moved to the nearby city of Bucaramanga in 1948, where she spent her formative teenage years and began her role as a much beloved aunt to an eventual twenty-one nieces and nephews.

Born in an era when women faced limited opportunities for higher education and professional recognition, Teresa defied the odds by earning a degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the National University of Colombia in Bogota in 1962. Her determination and perseverance not only set a new benchmark within her family but also served as an inspiration for young women in her community.

Teresa's career journey extended from her tenure overseeing production at AZUL K, a prominent commercial soap manufacturer in Bogota that continues today, to her position as the chief purchasing pharmacist at the state public pharmacy in her native province of Santander. Complementing her professional endeavors, she actively engaged in volunteer health brigades alongside fellow professionals, striving to enhance medical accessibility to the rural areas surrounding Bucaramanga.

Teresa moved to Canada in 1978 to a new life with her husband, George. They first lived in Masset, Haida Gwaii where George was stationed and where they welcomed daughter Adriana in 1979. Upon arriving in Canada and after the birth of her daughter, Teresa shifted to work in childcare.

In 1984 the family moved to Greater Victoria, where Teresa remained following George’s death in 1998.

Teresa's arrival in Masset, Canada, left her with cherished memories and deep respect for the Haida people, a heightened love for the outdoors, and active participation in community service initiatives. Teresa enjoyed camping, learned to fish and joined the local Lions Club as well as the Catholic Women’s League (CWL).

Teresa remained dedicated to her CWL membership at Saint Joseph the Worker Parish in Greater Victoria, where she also lent her time to the Saint Vincent DePaul Society. Moreover, she generously dedicated three years to volunteering at the Victoria Hospice

Teresa maintained deep connections to Colombia throughout her life in Canada, and used her personal travel to support connections between Catholic societies in Victoria and Colombia, helping to provide aid to settlements of Internally Displaced Persons.

Signs of Teresa’s memory problems first appeared around 2010, however her illness progressed very slowly and she still recognized close friends and family until the end.

Teresa was an extrovert who enjoyed music and friendships. Both in Canada, and across the distance to Colombia, she knew how to be a good friend and was there in both moments of joy and hardships. Particularly after George’s death Teresa became considered honorary family through several of the deep 35+ year friendships she formed in Canada. Even whilst living with Alzheimer’s, Teresa’s warm and upbeat demeanour earned her great affection among staff and residents at Sluggett House.

Teresa is predeceased by husband George McMullen, brothers Nestor Villabona Rondón and Alirio Villabona Rondón, sisters Ines Villabona Villamizar, Tula Villabona Villamizar and Ofelia Villabona Rondón and nieces Martha Villabona Agudelo and Haydee Villabona Mujica. She is survived by her brother Arturo Villabona Rondón, daughter Adriana McMullen, nineteen nieces nephews and their families.

Teresa was beloved by many, and will be deeply missed by her family and friends. She will never be forgotten.

The family wishes to thank staff and physicians of 7N at the Royal Jubilee Hospital for their compassion in Teresa’s final days, and staff and Sluggett House for their loving care of Teresa in years living there.

A prayer service was held on June 13, 2024 at First Memorial in Victoria. A funeral mass will be held on Thursday July 4th at 6pm at Saint Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, 753 Burnside Road West, Victoria BC.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Beacon Community Services Society or the Heart and Stroke Foundation.