Minerva Maglalang

Minerva Maglalang nee Javier was born on April 27, 1953 to Julio P. Javier and Ruperta David at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Manila. As a young child, Minerva loved music. She learned to play the piano and she loved to sing. Her favorite songs were from the movie, “The Sound of Music.” She attended St. James Academy for elementary school and high school. She studied Bachelor of Arts and majored in Management at the College of the Holy Spirit. Then she met Paulino S. Maglalang and fell in love. They married on June 2, 1976 at San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila.

On August 3, 1977, Minerva arrived in Canada. Then, in 1981, she gave birth to her daughter, Loerella, who became the most important part of her life.

Minerva was an active parent volunteer at Loerella’s elementary schools, St. Jude and Our Lady of Perpetual Help. She loved children, and the students she interacted with have many fond memories of her. The school staff, teachers and principals loved her too. Throughout Loerella’s high school years, Minerva became a beloved part of Loerella’s friends’ lives, as she warmed them with her smiles and laughter, supported them, and always treated them with kindness and generosity.

Minerva’s generosity included welcoming people into her home who were either on vacation or needed a place to stay. She enjoyed having company to tell stories to and share laughter with, and she was always quick to help those who needed it. Minerva loved life and had a passion for good food, travel and new experiences. She was an excellent cook and those lucky enough to know her would be invited to her home to partake in delicious feasts. No one would go home without their bellies bursting with her Filipino specialty dishes. She also knew where the good restaurants could be found around Vancouver. She was always game to try new restaurants and share findings with families and friends on the best eats. She enjoyed making plans with families and friends to travel and have fun together. She traveled all over the world, treasuring her visits with family and friends abroad.

Minerva had ongoing health issues throughout her life, starting with severe asthma as a child, and in her later years, developing diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. In 2014, she underwent successful multiple bypass heart surgery. But her combined underlying health conditions and ongoing challenges with heart disease and heart failure continued to impact her health throughout the years. Despite this, Minerva fiercely loved life and had such joy and happiness being with family and friends. What people remember the most about her is her storytelling, her laughs, and how much she loved her daughter Loerella, her son-in-law Eric and her two grand kids Laurel and Yvonne.

Minerva was a devout Catholic and dedicated to the Lord. Her faith was strong and unmovable. She entrusted everything to God, and she fully felt and praised His unconditional love and blessings.

Sadly, Minerva passed away suddenly on March 21, 2021 around 3:20 pm in Vancouver, Canada, likely due to heart failure. She is survived by her daughter Loerella Weitzel; son-in-law Eric Weitzel; grandchildren, Laurel and Yvonne Weitzel; and her sisters Velia Cruz, Yolanda Tosch and Gloria Santos. She is predeceased by her father Julio Javier; mother Ruperta Javier; husband Paulino Maglalang; and brothers Cesar and Pepe Javier.

She will be missed dearly and always loved.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Heart and Stroke Foundation using the link below.