Winston Arizala Esperanzate was born to Tomas and Felicidad (nee Arizala) Esperanzate on 05 October 1940 in Asingan, Pangasinan, Philippines.
He was 81 years young on the morning of Tuesday 18 January 2022 when he peacefully passed away with his family by his side at the Acute Cardiac Care Unit (5A) at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg after a brief and sudden medical illness.
Winston is survived by his wife of 54 years Nita (nee Bautista) Esperanzate, their son Dr. Patrick Esperanzate, his wife Dr. Jennifer Whelan and his grandchildren who are the apples of his eye, Emily Jane and Isabella May Esperanzate. He is also survived by his sisters Vene Daranciang (Renato, children Venus and Theresa), Fely Tomas (children Maria and Michael), Reynaldo Esperanzate (Clarita, children Mendel and Ricky), nieces and nephews Lorelei, Rommel, Wellington, Yuri, Malou, Hestia, Israel and all of their partners/children. A number of his other siblings have passed on and are also thought of with his passing.
Winston graduated as a registered nurse from the School of Nursing, Quezon Memorial Hospital in the Philippines in 1960. He proceeded to work with a number of American construction companies across South East Asia before emigrating to Chicago. There, he worked as a registered nurse in psychiatry at the famed Cook County Hospital. He met his soon to be wife, Nita who worked in the urology unit. They married on 04 February 1967.
Soon after they moved to Winnipeg and worked in Riverview Hospital for a few years before completing a diploma in Public health at Brandon University and moving to Beausejour to take up a new position through Manitoba Public Health. They moved to Selkirk for a few years and then to Winnipeg.
As a Public Health Nurse, he was an instrumental figure in creating the platform for the original deployment of the Home Care model in Manitoba. He was involved in promoting it in the 1990s, as for example, to the interested Ministry of Health in Japan through videos to explain how the model/system works.
During and after early retirement, he kept being involved in the community as a senior campaign strategist for three different political parties in three different provincial/federal campaigns – all of those candidates won their contests. He was also a serving member on the Board of Directors for the Manitoba Association of Optometrists. He greatly travelled in his earlier years even to drive across all 48 continental American states with his family and many parts of Europe and Asia multiple times.
Through all of this, he was a joker, kidder, messer – just a warm person of fun and he always would take the time to say “hi”. He most of all devoted his love to his “my two beautiful granddaughters” for which were the reason for “keeping on living”.
For those who would like to attend services: (COVID-19 provincial mandates in force including a maximum of 250 individuals with full vaccination status to be checked at the door; first 250 only – sorry):
- Viewing/Lamay(Prayers)/Service:
6pm-10pm central standard time
Wednesday 26 January 2022
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church
Celebrant Monsignor Maurice Comeault
4588 Roblin Blvd, Winnipeg, MB R3R 0G4, Canada
- Funeral Service
1030am Central Standard Time
Thursday 27 January 2022
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church
Celebrant Monsignor Maurice Comeault
4588 Roblin Blvd, Winnipeg, MB R3R 0G4, Canada
For those who cannot attend in person or wish to maintain distance with current provincial COVID-19 protocols: please visit the live feed under “upcoming live streams” at: https://www.olphwinnipeg.ca
Or more specifically at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyc_ftKDQ4ubYfHhsch6wcQ
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Society of Manitoba.
Family and friends are invited to share memories and condolences using the comment field below.
Winston and Nita has been a very close friend of our family. We met at Winnipeg Municipal hospital then now Riverview health center since both of us couples are nurses. He was our best man on our wedding in 1971 and a ninong of our son Nick. We continued our friendship passed on to our children who keep in touch . The last time i saw Winston and Nita was at my husbands funeral service in May 2021 .Winston you will see Pert in heaven now to continue the friendship you had here on earth. Rest in peace.
Nita, Patrick and families…I was saddened to hear the news of Winston’s passing. My heart goes out to you at this very difficult time. I will remember Winston as thoughtful and caring, always a devoted husband and father. Although I lost touch over the years with Nita after my retirement, you were still thought of throughout the years, and especially today. May your most precious memories comfort you now and in the days ahead.
In friendship and sympathy, Linda Mymko
Dear Nita: I am so sorry to learn about Winston’s passing. I will no more see Winston’s beautiful smile scooting down the 4th floor hallway at River Ridge 2 Retirement Residence. It was always a pleasure to have a short chat with him, almost daily. My condolences are extended to you and your family, Nita.
With sincere sympathy and love,
Lorraine, a River Ridge 2 resident on the 4th floor.
I am sadden of the news that Uncle Winny past away but also happy for him that he is not suffering anymore, it’s a great loss to our family, as close as we are, we will encounter such obstacles, we just have to hold on to our memories and never let them go away, he will be always be in my heart and in my mind, I regard him as one of the best Uncles I ever had and at one point he told me I was his favorite, in fact, with my moms encouragement, me and my siblings became nurses just to keep traditions alive, I will always think of you always Uncle Winny , my family always have wonderful thoughts and feelings of you and with the addition of a new grandson, he will have the knowledge of having a great grand uncle, we love you..