November 12, 1941 – December 31, 2022
Aurelia Nano Medrano Ho, 81, of Winnipeg, passed away on December 31, 2022. She was the daughter of the late Juan and Apolonia Medrano of Pangasinan, the Philippines.
In Canada, she worked as a psychiatric nurse at Selkirk Mental Hospital, Central Park Lodge, and at St. Norbert Nursing Home, where she was the nurse in charge before retiring in 2015. Aurelia earned a diploma of Psychiatric Nursing from Mont Park Mental Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, in 1965.
She met her husband, Tak Fai Ho, at a mutual friend’s wedding, and they married in March 1968. They immigrated to Winnipeg from Australia in 1970. Along with her nursing career, she and her family owned and operated several Asian stores, notably Manila Mart, where they sold imported Asian food to the local community in Winnipeg. Known for her sharp intellect, work ethic, vivacious personality, and endless generosity, Aurelia and her husband sponsored many family members and friends to move to Winnipeg from various places in Asia. Hundreds of people now call Winnipeg home because of her efforts. Aurelia instilled the importance of education, independence, and fairness in her children. She had a love of food, fashion, bowling, Scrabble, gambling, travel, and laughter.
Aurelia suffered a stroke in 2016 in Tarlac, the Philippines, and had been living at Deer Lodge Centre ever since. She is survived by her husband Tak Fai Ho; children Grace (Don Smallman), Tanya (Joel Baglole), Mayumi (Rod Deraney), Nathan (Lonnie Ho), Marilou (Greg Villanueva); 15 cherished grandchildren; sister Francis Medrano (Willie Torio); nephews Arnold Trinidad (Giselle), Lawrence Trinidad (Gina), Jun Medrano (Josee), Jay-R Medrano, Mario Medrano (Heidi), Fred Medrano (Dalisay); niece Jeannette Medrano (Greg Pearcey), Sylvia Medrano (Gary), Rebecca Medrano (Ray), Elizabeth Pajarillo, Edna Pajarillo; cousin Rolando Pizarro; brother-in-law Ho Tak Chew (Weng Lian), sisters-in-law Ho Tak Foong, Chooi Ngor, Angeling Medrano, and many extended family members and friends. She is predeceased by her brothers Estaneslao and Saturnino Medrano and sister Rufina Medrano.
We are sincerely grateful for the excellent care provided by Deer Lodge Centre over the past six-and-a-half years. Mom – we love you, rest in peace. You will always be remembered.
Visitation and funeral service on Thursday, Jan. 5 from 4 pm-9:30 pm, Voyage Funeral Home, 472 Kirkfield St, Winnipeg Manitoba, R3K 1E6.
Cremation to follow with a return to the Philippines at a later date.
5 thoughts on “Aurelia Nano Medrano Ho”
I was glad to have met you on many occasions in both Kingston and once in Winnipeg.
Your legacy lives on in your fine family.
May you rest in peace with the angels.
To Tak Fai, Grace Ho, Don Smallman, and their children Jane, Eleanor, Clara, and Isobel, and the Ho family – please accept my deepest sympathy. May Aurelia Rest In Peace.
Tom Smallman
Auring is fondly remembered for her generosity, industrious , contagious laugh, directness and her love of food by the Ho family in Singapore and Australia.
She is perceptive and enterprising. It has been our privilege to have you as our sister-in-law.
She loves our family as her own as seen in her love towards our mum and all of Tak Fai’s siblings.
Thank you for all that you have done for the Ho family.
You will be missed, we love you and rest in peace.
Dear Tanya,
I am so sorry to hear of your Mom’s passing. She sounds like an amazing person who has contributed so much throughout her life. May you find comfort in the many memories. Thinking of you. Louise
Dear Tanya,
My condolences to you and your entire family. Your mother sounds like she was an amazing woman who was helpful to so many. May her generous spirit be an inspiration to others.
Janis