Dr. Lilia Aquino
Passed on: December 23rd, 2016
Dr. Lilia Aquino died at home on December 23, 2016 at the age of 85. Lilia was born and raised in the town of Mangaldan, Pangasinan in the Philippines. She is the daughter of the late Urbano and the late Encarnacion Aquino. Lilia completed her Bachelor of Science Degree before she entered medical school and graduated in 1955 from Santo Tomas University in Manila, Philippines. After she graduated from Medicine, Lilia started her training as a Resident in Diagnostic, Therapeutic and Nuclear Medicine at Bellevue Hospital in New York, NY, Radiation Therapy at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, NY, and Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, Quebec, as well as Diagnostic Radiology at Montreal Children’s Hospital. At this time, Lilia became American Certified in Diagnostic, Therapeutic and Nuclear Medicine and then she practiced at Martland Medical Center in Newark, NJ for one year until she moved to Canada and practiced Diagnostic Radiology at Sydney City Hospital, St. Rita’s Hospital in Sydney, NS, Northside General Hospital, and Sydney Mines Hospital for several years. Lilia accepted a position at Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital in Inverness, NS as a Radiologist until she retired 10 years ago back to Sydney, NS.
Lilia was a very hard-working and independent woman. She took pride in overcoming many obstacles during the years of her career. Besides her job as a radiologist, Lilia enjoyed traveling and had a deep passion for gardening. She would spend countless hours digging and planting, beautifying her properties. Above all, Lilia cared deeply for her family although most of them lived away. In the summer of 2013, her sister Rebecca, several of her nieces and their families traveled from different parts of the world to visit her, filling her home with love and laughter. She was visited frequently by her cousin, Dr. Emmanuel Aquino, whom she treated like a “little” brother and his wife, Dolores, who always made a point to bring her favorite filipino foods that she lost sleep over until they were all consumed. Although she did not have any children of her own, she supported and educated several nieces and nephews in the Philippines. She extended her kindness and generosity to many other people throughout her life. Lilia is survived by her brothers, Rev. Msgr. Oscar Aquino from New York, Arnulfo Aquino, and sister, Rebecca Domagas, both in the Philippines. She was pre-deceased by her partner, the late Malcolm Read; brother, Bernardo Aquino and Dr. Jose Aquino Sr. from Halifax, NS, whom she was especially close too. She will be sadly missed by her family and friends, especially her niece, Aileen Aquino Fahey and her family, who supported her during the last decade of her life. She was especially fond of Aileen’s daughter, Emma Fahey (a.k.a. “Doña Rafaela”) who was the apple of her eye.
Visitation will be held at T.W. Curry Parkview Chapel in Sydney, NS on Thursday, January 5 between 5-9 p.m. Funeral Mass will take place at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 6 at St. Theresa’s Church in Sydney, NS. with Father Dennis Lamey and Rev. Msgr. Oscar Aquino officiating. Burial will take place at a later date. Donations in memory may be made to the Nova Scotia branch of the Canadian Cancer Society. Online condolences may be expressed at www.twcurry.com.
Dr. Aquino’s family would like to thank Lilia’s friend and confidante, Larry Farrell, for all the kindness and support that he provided Lilia for the last 23 years. He was a true trusting friend who always kept her best interests at heart, provided a listening ear during stressful times and a wonderful sense of humor that left her leaving with hope and a smile on her face.
