Obituary of Juliana Soares

SOARES, Juliana On December 2, 2008, Juliana's 22 year courageous battle with Breast Cancer ended. She died at home with dignity, with her daughter, caregivers and doctor by her side. Juliana was born August 18, 1937 in Shanghai, China. Her family moved from Shanghai to Taiwan, then Hong Kong and she later settled with her mother in Toronto in 1964. Her career took her from the American Consulate in Hong Kong and Toronto, to De Havilland, Air Canada, and Ontario Hydro where she later retired. From the onset, Juliana's life was filled with considerable challenges which she bravely faced, accepted and endured. She was also grateful to be alive and gave of herself without any expectation of receiving in return. Following her first bout with Breast Cancer in 1986, Juliana sought to help and provide support to others affected by Cancer. Over the course of several years, she promoted patient advocacy through Cancer Care Ontario, and volunteered her time, her personal experience and language skills to Cancer patients and their families at Wellspring, Bayview Support Network and Willow. She was an inspiration to those she came in contact with. She was also a devoted wife to the late Viriato Soares; loving and truly dedicated mother to Zelia; and adoring grandmother to Sasha. Family and friends old and new will remember her for her beautiful smile, her love of classical music, her elegance, kindness and generosity. She will be dearly missed by all. A special thanks to her primary caregiver Delia for her loving attention and dedication, to her nurse Beata for the warm companionship and daily visits, to Dr. Russell Goldman and the team of doctors (The Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care) who made Juliana's stay at home more comfortable, to Magdelena and other PSWs who kept watch during the nightshifts, and to CCAC for providing additional support and resources. The family will receive friends at the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME - A.W. MILES CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Eglinton Avenue East) from 2-4 p.m. and from 7-9 p.m. on Friday, December 5. Funeral Service will be held in the chapel at 11 a.m. on Sunday, December 7. Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.