Berghaus Girls

A TRIBUTE TO VIRGINIA DIAZ VELASCO

By Dolly Magbitang
Ontario-Canada
July 25, 2014



She has gained and acquired many hundreds of friends, friends who are now grieving the loss of a “one-of-a kind” person, a person who has shared and given so generously to anyone in need; shared and given her love, caring and support, without expecting anything in return.

Gie was one of the Berghaus Girls who worked in The Netherlands from 1971-1974.She was a very popular and well-liked employee of Berghaus, B.V., Ulft.

 Red, her favorite colour,  Andrea Bocelli her fav singer, Coco Martin, a favorite Filipino actor, was a big fun of teleserye TFC –“ the Filipino channel;”visits to Timmy’s is another one of  her favs.

From The Netherlands, she went to Winnipeg, lived there for a couple of years, married Benny, had Jenny and Jon Jon, then moved to Edmonton.

Gie and Benny’s house is quite close in proximity to Edmonton Mall and she fondly called the house Velasco Inn.  As you realize, there is a pinoy habit that most often, people forget to leave behind back home –that is,  arriving at a friend’s place unannounced or just giving a call when they arrive at the Edmonton Mall and announcing that they just arrived after driving long distance from another province (as if it is just a trip from Guimba to Aliaga, Nueva Ecija, a province in the Philippines) – so Gie used to buy cases of corned beef and kept these in their basement for use when these hair-raising occasions suddenly come up.

Imagine preparing lunch for 6-12 people within 15 minutes.

She was a hard-working employee, devoted wife and mother to her own immediate family, a devoted daughter to Amang and Inang, a devoted  sister to her brothers and sisters, loyal sister in-law to Nila in Toronto, loyal  friend toTeresa, and the rest of Kwartellaan Ladies Group 2

She has touched so many people’s lives; she has enhanced so many of her friends’s physical and emotional well-being; and most often than not, even at the expense of her health.

She was a person who never knew the word “no”. She spent an enormous amount of her time, money, energy and emotion, and never complained, such as driving to and from various locations and destination( such as- from and to the Edmonton Airport); attending to friends’ physical, emotional and financial needs, regardless of the challenges that sometimes accompany those activities, just to mention a few.( she was a cancer survivor; had a hip replacement)

Gie is now in heaven and unfortunately, this was not completed in time for her funeral service last June 26^th.

This is not the time to grieve her death, but it is our time to celebrate her life.  She never wanted to see our tears. She wants us to be happy, so at this moment, let us all think back and remember how she touched our lives, how she made us laugh. We should be thankful that we were given the chance to have known such a great person named Gie. Let us cherish and remember those happy occasions she has shared with us – let us keep those fond memories in our hearts

Knowing Gie, and knowing how sad we are at this moment, she would convey to us her feelings through the following message, as aptly captured in this brief poem.

When I am gone, release me, let me go
I have so many things to see and do

You mustn’t tie yourself to me with too many tears
But be thankful, we had so many good years

It is now time I traveled on, alone
So grieve for a while, if grieve you must

Then let your grief, be comforted by trust
That it is only for a while, that we must part

So treasure the memories within your heart
I won’t be far away, for life goes on

And if you need me, call and I will come
Though you can’t see me nor touch me, I will be near

And if you listen with your heart, you will hear
All my love around you, soft and clear

And then, when you come this way alone
I’ll greet you with a smile and a “welcome home”

---

THIS IS COMING FROM MY HEART – TO GIE –
 THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE HAPPY MEMORIES

You left us so suddenly, your thoughts unknown,
 You left us memories, we are proud to own

Your life was full of loving deeds,
 Forever thoughtful of our special needs,
 Today and tomorrow, my whole life through,
 I will always love and cherish you

In God’s care, you rest above
In my heart you rest with love.
Memories of you is mine to keep
My words are few but my love is deep.

Death leaves a heartache
no one can heal;
Love leaves a memory
 No one can steal

Gone but not forgotten,
Though we are apart,
Your spirit lives within me
 Forever in my heart.
 Until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

---

Note:

 In keeping with Virgie's wishes, Cremation with a Funeral Service was held at Westlawn Funeral Home, 16310 Stony Plain Road, on Thursday, June 26, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. Edmonton Alberta time

Please join me in praying for the repose of the soul of Gie

Prepared by: Ms. Dolly I. Magbitang
Social Worker, Kwartellaan Ladies Group 2
Berghaus B.V The Netherlands