Florenda P. Tobias

Florenda P. Tobias June 17, 1947 - July 29, 2013 Waterford- Florenda P. Tobias, 66, of Sunnieside Court, passed away Monday, July 29, 2013 at the Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London. She passed away surrounded by family and loved ones after a courageous three-year battle with cancer. Florenda was born on June 17, 1947 in Bayambang Pangasinan, Philippines, the daughter of the late Geronimo and Maria (Rosario) Pilaspilas. Florenda aspired to be a nurse and attended Fareastern University and then graduated with a nursing degree at Luzon Colleges School of Nursing. During these college years, she met her beloved husband-to-be where they began a courtship of about 7 years. They were married in 1970. After having three children, Florenda began her journey to America. In August of 1976, she left behind a husband and three small children to begin their life in Connecticut. Florenda lived with her uncle's family in Waterford while she secured employment and a new home for her family. After several months of missing her husband and very young children, they were reunited in New York at John F. Kennedy airport shortly after the blizzard of 1978. They began their life in America in a small apartment in New London. The family moved to a 2-family home on Jefferson Avenue. In 1983, Florenda and her husband bought and moved into their brand new home in Waterford, where they raised their family. She was employed for 31 years as a registered nurse at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital, retiring in 2010. She had also worked at Greentree Manor in Waterford and Nutmeg Pavilion Healthcare in New London. Florenda was a hard-working woman, loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to many. She enjoyed providing for and shopping mostly for her children and grandchildren, and many were blessed by her kind and generous nature. Florenda is survived by her husband Cecilio R. Tobias, whom she married on August 24, 1970 in the Philippines. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Mack and her husband Damon of Hartford, CT; two sons, Sandro Tobias and his wife, Bethany of Holliston, MA and Dodjie Tobias of Waterford; a brother, Geminiano Pilaspilas of Alaska; a sister, Benita Delacruz of the Philippines; and six grandchildren, Damon Mack Jr., Jalynn Mack, Mason Mack, Dodjie Tobias Jr., Aiden Tobias and Evangeline Flora Tobias. The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday, from 5-8 P.M. at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 12 Ocean Avenue, New London. The funeral procession will assemble on Friday, 10:15 A.M. at the funeral home and proceed to St. Mary Church, 10 Huntington St., New London, for the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 A.M. Interment will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, Jefferson Avenue, New London. Condolence messages may be left on Mrs. Tobias' memorial page at www.neilanfuneral home.com