Maria Theresita Racelis
October 3,1964 (Quezon City, Philippines) – March 30, 2018 (Toronto, Canada)

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I am announcing my beautiful wife Maria at the age of 53 has passed away peacefully with family and friends continuously by her side at Princess Margaret Hospital.

Maria will now join her loving departed father Gregorio in paradise.

Survived by her husband of 27 years Frank Colavecchia, Kristen (daughter) and Andreas (son).

Maria will be fondly missed by her mother Avelina.
Jo Ann and Ruth (sisters).
Roberto and Garth (brothers-in-law).
Robbie, Alyssa, Victoria and Mya (nieces).

Mama Rosa (mother-in-law) and Fil.
Connie, Joanne and Rosanne (sisters-in-law).
Leo, Nick and Vince (brothers -in-law).
Dominique (niece) Michael, Daniel, Andrew, David , Christopher and Julian (nephews).
Bianca (grand-niece).

Our Baby Kaycee

Special mention and thank you for their warm, kind loving support:

Audrey (grade 6) & Shawn; Beti & Bobby (best friends); Sue (sister from another mister); Linda and Brian(Maria & Kaycee pool photo shoot); Immaculate (va va va voom Maria); Ruth-Ellen; Claudia; Greg (the man cave ); Matt (surfer dude); Christina Carmela Elio (we miss the daily cappuccinos pastry and Carmela’s special sandwiches); Santina; Tony & Debbie Pulla; Tyrone Senior (Ottawa, HUGE laughter, fun, follies, reggae, refreshments , goooood times).

United States – Tito Walter & Tita Carmela; Tito Manny & Tita Christie; Tito Oscar & Tita Dudu and all the Californians; Alan Loreto Lian, Mikey, AJ, Alaina.

To all our families and great, short / long time friends thank you for your warm hospitality, laughter and great times!

Last but not least Mario and Angie Giancola (Wasaga Beach cottage).

Mario, your masters of ceremony line of what Maria saw as she entered the church the aisle , alter , him “…you were right…I’ll alter him.
Our journey started July 18, 1982 on a gorgeous sunny day with the beach a purposely overthrown football pass, and “ would you like a beer?”...Maria’s response was “do you have a coke?”…and so it was...I scrambled to find a coke.

…from our first date attending my cousins wedding to learning how to camp,white water rafting, Shaw Festival, Stratford Festival, movies, Rideau Canal, skiing ,travelling to the United States, Europe, Caribbean, east coast (proposal to marry me), marriage, Kristen Andreas, more vacations with Beti Bob with the children, food food and more food , my cooking, pictures and more pictures, selfies and lots of selfies (especially California coast) Facebook posts – lots of posts, and so much more.

We laughed, we cried, we endured and we laughed again and finally cried again.

Our journey took a sudden turn on May 25, 2017, our life was about to change.

Maria was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme Stage IV (very aggressive tumour) in the parietal lobe of the brain, first surgery May 29, 2017.

This cancer does not have a cure.

The median life expectancy is 14 months; we said we were not going to allow that to stop us from going forward.

Maria worked hard in rehab to get better, painted and shared her paintings with friends and her former room mates/partners in crime.

Everyday Maria smiled her beautiful smile.

We cried and talked with pride about how we did a great job raising Kristen and Andreas…what great children they turned out to be.

On October 13, 2017 our birthdays took another sudden turn, Maria had a second surgery for an abscess.

Maria was not able to recover the same as the first surgery.

It was Christmas 2017 when I was worried and heartbroken, Maria was getting weaker and weaker.

It was my pleasure to take care of Maria at any time of day or night, until I could no longer help.

Monday March 5, 2018 was the final turning point when we had to go to emergency (a very long night for JoAnn Andreas and myself).
Complications started in January and did not cease until her passing on Good Friday approximately 4PM.
Just as Jesus carried his cross and died on Good Friday, Maria also carried her cross (cancer) until she died on Good Friday.

Our journey and cappuccino is only on hold until we meet again in paradise.

Oh sweetheart how much I love you…and as you always told me not goodbye but see you later.

Ciao for now!
May God Bless you with eternal peace and happiness
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In lieu of flowers a donation can be made at: http://www.onewalk.ca/site/TR/Walk/Toronto2018?px=1474483&pg=personal&fr_id=1151