Rhodora Acosta de Jesus-Maiolo

Maria Rhodora Elinore Acosta de Jesus-Maiolo Born: September 17, 1970 in Manila, Philippines Died: March 7, 2010 in San Francisco, CA at Age 39 Rhodora - loving wife, sister, daughter, aunt, and mom to her puppy Luc, passed away last Sunday at UCSF Medical Center after battling cancer for 7 years. Rhoda came to the United States in 1982. Although Rhoda passed away at age 39, she lived a full and amazing life. She and her husband Robert Frank Maiolo from Waterbury, CT met when they were ages 17 and 19. Rob proposed to Rhoda in Times Square on New Year's Eve of 1996. After a year's engagement, they married in January 1997. Rob and Rhoda were blessed with the opportunity of spending their prime years together, enjoying 22 wonderful years filled with travel, romance, and countless adventures. Rhoda distinguished her life with many passions and endeavors. She protected and cared for each family member dearly - offering wisdom, encouragement, laughter, and boundless love to all. Her appreciation of fine jewelry and rare stones led her to become a gemologist. Naturally pioneering and innovative in spirit, Rhoda used her mastery of computer languages and visionary marketing techniques to build with her husband a successful plumbing company that has thrived for the past 10 years in San Francisco. The company's website which Rhoda created captured the coveted number one spot on Google. Rhoda was a warm, loving person whose generosity extended beyond family and friends. During some of the most debilitating periods of her sickness, Rhoda was a fiercely loyal activist for the causes closest to her heart. She single-handedly founded a nonprofit organization, The Dog Meat Trade Foundation, that championed the prevention of cruelty against dogs in the Philippines. Far surpassing her original goals of illuminating the public to animal cruelty in the Philippines, the foundation has become instrumental in prevailing a change in Philippine legislation. Rhoda also championed PAWS, a grass-roots effort of non-partisan leaders and business people that fosters kindness to animals. Beyond her love for man's best friend, Rhoda also espoused fundraising and bringing relief to the flood victims of Hurricane Ondoy in the Philippines. She was a strong advocate for Efren Penaflorida, the winner of the CNN Heroes International Award in 2009, and the Justice for Campbell Bridges petition, a renowned gemologist who discovered the Tsavorite gem was killed in Kenya. In American politics, she deeply supported gay rights and marriage. Rhoda will be forever missed by her family, friends, and all who knew her, but her legacy, beliefs, and tenacity will live on. Rhoda is survived by her husband Robert, her puppy Lukey, her parents Maria Elisa and Richard Duncan, her sisters Maria Ruth and Maria Rowena, nephew Israel Ethan and brother-in-law Randall Eugene Frost. Other relatives in the United States are Jose Richelieu, Geraldine, Armand John and Maria Patricia Ylo. Friends may visit Thursday and Friday , March 11 and 12 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and are invited to attend the Vigil Service on Friday at 7:00 pm at the Evergreen Mortuary of McAvoy O'Hara Company Geary Blvd. at 10th Ave, San Francisco. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Saturday, March 13 at St. Cecilia Church on 17th Ave. at Vicente San Francisco, CA 94116. The Committal Service will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery on 1500 Mission Rd. Colma, CA 94014, In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Philippine Animal Welfare Society, Inc. (PAWS) 87 Small Horseshoe, New Manila, Quezon City 1112 Philippines Tel: +63-2-724-6395 Fax: +63-2-724-1986 Email: philpaws@yahoo.com Web: www.paws.org.ph McAVOY-O'HARA (415) 668-0077