Teresita Amon Fajardo

In loving memory of Teresita Amon Fajardo, “Tessie”, “Mom”, “Lola Tessie”, “Ate Ting”, “Tita Tessie”, “Tita Ting”, “Nanay”, who passed away peacefully on March 5, 2024. Our beloved Mom, Lola, great-grandmother, wife, aunt, and friend. Teresita was born on October 2, 1935, in Zamboanga City, Zamboanga, in the Philippines. Teresita graduated from the University of the East in Manila with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. She was married to Conrado G. Fajardo from 1955 to 1985 and they had four daughters, Theresa, Victoria, Antonieta, and Pamela.

On April 16, 1966, Tessie, her three daughters, Theresa, Victoria, Antonieta and her youngest sister, Mila, moved permanently to Vancouver BC Canada to join her husband Conrado who had immigrated to Canada in 1965 when he was hired as a Professional Electrical Engineer for BC Hydro (IPEC). Together they laid the foundation for their family to thrive and bought their first home in West Point Grey. Soon thereafter in 1967, they happily welcomed the birth of their youngest daughter, Pamela. Tessie was very much involved with the local church and school community of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, where all her children and two eldest grandchildren, Courtenay and Ashleigh were educated.

She started working at Canada Post in 1972 as a postal clerk and forged life-long camaraderies with many colleagues and friends. She thoroughly enjoyed her interactions with the avid stamp collectors at the philatelic centre and built many relationships with her regular clients while she was stationed at the main post office on West Georgia Street until her retirement in 1990.

After her early retirement from Canada Post, she went back to school at UBC to reinvent herself and successfully got her licence to become a realtor. Throughout her business and personal life, Tessie demonstrated strong work ethics and moral principles. She was hard-working, personable, kind, helpful, charitable, and loved working with people. She loved to cook and people loved her delicious cooking! She explored new things later on in life including camping, hiking, skiing, line dancing, and karaoke.

She shared her love of music and dance in many circles. She was part of the Filipino Golden Age Group, performing Filipino dances and songs for seniors homes and special events. She brought laughter, music, and friendship to everyone she knew. She joyfully played piano all her life. Tessie played the standard classics on the piano along with some Filipino songs at the Louis Brier Home and Hospital. Throughout her stay there she created a loving atmosphere to all who spent time with her.

Tessie will be lovingly remembered by her daughters, Theresa (Stu) Magee, Victoria (Mon) Gonzales, and Pamela (Ray) Cypher, her six grandchildren, Courtenay (Chris) Boyda, Ashleigh (Christopher) Gonzales Burnside, James Unger, Jenelle Fajardo, Rebecca Cypher, and Devin Cypher, along with her two great-grandchildren, Carina Boyda, and Carter Boyda. She will be dearly missed by her sister Mila Amon, nieces Ana Alicia (Anali) Mas Sale, Agnes (Anyet) Mas Tan, nephews Marvin Negrete, Mark Negrete, niece Marissa Negrete, nephew Valentin (JJ) Amon, nieces Valerie Caissie, Andrea Amon, sister-in-law Zeny Fajardo, nieces, Editha Fajardo, Eleanor Fajardo Shirley Rogers, and Recel Fajardo Jardine.

She is predeceased by her daughter, Antonieta Fajardo Turner, her ex-husband Conrado Fajardo, her father Valentin Garcia Amon Sr., mother Fermina Hernandez Velando Amon, her sister Feliciana Amon Mas, and her brother Valentin Amon Jr.

A Celebration of Life will be planned later this year to honour Teresita’s life and legacy.

The family expresses our deepest gratitude to the staff and medical team at Louis Brier Home and Hospital, for their compassion and kindness while providing long term and palliative care. You included her in your hearts and we are forever grateful.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Canadian Diabetes Association, St Paul’s Hospital Kidney Care Clinic, and/or Alzheimer Society.