VILLARROEL, Maria Eliana (nee Vargas) - (November 14th, 1932 - October 11, 2021) -

Maria Eliana Villarroel (nee Vargas) was born on November 14th, 1932 in Valparaiso, Chile to Laura Rosa Cesped and Belisario Vargas. She is the youngest of five children and the last surviving of her family to pass away. To people back home in Chile, she was known as Eliana or Tia Eliana, in Canada as Maria and to her grandchildren as Mama.

In the 1950’s she met Raul Villarroel whom she married on January 17th ,1956. They went to have eight children; Betty, Nene (Raul), Susana, Aurora, Osvaldo, Manuel, Enzo Omar and Mariela.

On November 14, 1955, Maria suffered her first big loss, the passing of her beloved mother. On October 17, 1972, she suffered her second heart breaking loss, the passing of her beloved son Enzo Omar. He was only 3 years old and her baby at the time. These two losses she carried throughout her life however she learned to let God heal her wounds and have a new appreciation in life.

Maria Eliana had many life challenges and obstacles but she pressed on and did not let hold her down for too long. Her mentality was “es lo que me toco,” which means it’s what I had to go through.

In her later years of her life she gave her life to Jesus. For years, she had avoided him however in early 1990’s she could not resist the pull of God in her heart. Once she made that commitment she never pulled away. The joy she had lost was restored and a new found hope kept her unwavering faith to the end. Perhaps it was her faith in Jesus her Lord and Savior and the trust she had in Him that kept her fighting to the end.

She was not the type to preach to you but showed her faith was demonstrated in how she served God. Whether it was by going to church, being loving and kind to others, and her generosity towards other and her love to feed those she loved.

On October 29, 2007, her husband of more than 50 years passed away, bringing to the surface a disease that was hiding in the background. In 2008, she was diagnosed with vascular dementia. A disease that slowly took away her memory, her ability to talk, her ability walk and eventually her life. In October 2012, she became bedridden until her passing on October 11, 2021. She fought hard and was stubborn. Her family surrounded her much love and respect.

She was, is and always will be the queen of their hearts.

She is survived by seven children, 19 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

Arrangements and livestream service details are entrusted with Scott funeral home, Woodbridge chapel.

TorontoObituaries.com

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