Josephine 1st June 2020

I am Tita Boo, mother of Caterina. And this is how I remembered her: I left for Spain when Caterina was only one year old. She was able to join me when she was 10. I asked my sister Lilay (who look after her while I’m in Spain) what’s her favourite food. She said it was corned beef and adobo. So I cooked her favourite food and excitedly gave them to her. But she didn’t eat them. I asked why? She said, “ in the Philippines we cooked corned beef with lots of cabbage and loads of soup.” I bought her loads of grapes (all kinds and different colours) and apples and oranges. She looked at me crying, “How about my cousins in the Philippines?” I asked why don’t you eat grapes in the Philippines? She said yes, but only in Christmas times and mostly rotten and old. You see at her young age she’s always been selfless and think of her family way back home. Her heart is always been pure, she’s always think others before herself. She went to Don Bosco St Benedictine International School. One Friday I was collecting her from her dormitory. She overheard me talking to the Taxi driver in Spanish. She kicked me in my leg and she corrected my grammar. I told her you just came here 2 weeks ago and how dare you corrected me? She grew up very intelligent. She adapted quickly to her new environment. She gained many friends. On one occasion she escaped from the dormitory with 4 of her friends they bought some food. The guard caught them and reported to the office. So the next day I was called and requested to come. They checked their rooms and found some chocolates and candies in one of her friend’s cupboard. Wondering how they got there the nun asked where it came from. Caterina proudly stand up, raised her hand and said she gave it to her. This is how big her heart is she don’t care whether she’ll be in trouble just to be able to help others. She joined us here in England when she was 16 years old. She study NVQs 2-4 in Health and Social Care while she’s working as HCA in Balcombe Place Care Home and Walsingham. She also studied some management courses and she eventually promoted Deputy Manager in Walsingham. She became mother of two—- Mikel and Bernadette. They both grew up wonderful and loving adults. Caterina never stopped being a child.... her personality as always been cheerful and jolly. She never complain whether regarding family or at work. During the Pandemic, she thought of how she could be of help to her family in the Philippines. She asked my niece to buy everyone some vitamin-C to help against the virus. She also ordered masks/glove/aprons and sanitizers just before the lockdown for the residents and Staffs. She always think ahead....Her thinking is always for the goodness of others. Now it’s our time to think about her.... And to thank her for all the things that she has done for us. We know that wherever she is, she’s in a happy and well rested place now.... And with her personality, she’s still looking out for us..... from heaven. “So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take your joy.” —John 16:22