March 20, 1958 – February 15, 2026
With faith in our hearts and profound sadness, we announce that Divina was called home to eternal rest. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by love, as her courageous battle with cancer came to an end, at the age of 67, on Sunday, February 15, 2026.
Divina was predeceased by her husband Jose Jim E. Gonzales, her son Ian Noel Jim J. Gonzales; parents, Francisco and Delia Jose; her brother, Francisco Jr. Jose. She will be greatly missed but lovingly remembered by her daughters, Jodi and Francesca Gonzales; nieces, Heidi, Catherine (& Ryan Pasion), and April Jose; and numerous other relatives and friends.
Divina was born and raised in the Philippines. She graduated highschool from Manila Science, and soon obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Statistics from the University of the Philippines. She also studied at Ateneo De Manila and Dela Salle University and received Master’s degree in Business Administration. Divina held a managerial position as she worked for the National Power Corporation of the Philippines, under the Loan Management and Foreign Exchange Division. She was also a part-time professor for the University of the Philippines, in which she taught Financial Mathematics. From 2000 to 2007, Divina served as Vice President of Finance at Citibank Philippines. Although she held this prestigious position, she made the selfless decision to leave her career behind when she and her family immigrated to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She firmly believed that this new chapter would open greater opportunities and brighter futures for her children. As a new immigrant, she worked at a call centre. Until 2008, she obtained a position under the Government of Manitoba as a Statistical Analyst, in which she retired from in 2020.
Not only was Divina incredibly intelligent and highly driven, she was also compassionate, caring, and very generous. She always put her family first and strongly encouraged her children to reach for their goals and aspirations; her son Ian, who received B.Sc. in Computer science and Master’s in Statistical Psychology; her daughters Jodi and Francesca, who both have B.Sc. in Nursing. Divina was a very loyal Catholic and was truly devoted to her love for God; as she was an active member of the Couples for Christ, Handmaids of the Lord Ministry. She was involved in the non-profit organization ANCOP (Answering the Cry of the Poor) which dedicates alleviating poverty in developing countries. On her free time, Divina enjoyed gardening in the summer time, tending to her orchids, cuddling with her senior dog Bolton. Divina was an outstanding bowler, as she received several awards in her first season playing for Mabuhay Mixed Bowling League. She also volunteered some of her time to the Community Income Tax Program and often offered assistance to her family and friends in completing their taxes.
No matter the hardships she encountered — the deep sorrow of losing loved ones or the physical toll of repeated chemotherapy and radiation treatments — Divina faced each challenge with courage, grace, and an unwaveringly positive spirit, always counting her blessings.
We, her family, would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all who have offered prayers, sent cards, and shown gestures of kindness and sympathy as we mourn the loss of our dearest Divina. Your love and support have brought us comfort during this difficult time.
A celebration of Divina’s life was held on February 28, 2026, at Glen Lawn Funeral Home and Cemetery, 455 Lagimodiere Blvd, Winnipeg, MB R2J 4J4.
A Funeral Mass was held on March 4, 2026 @ 10:30 am at St. Gianna Beretta Molla Roman Catholic Church, 15 Columbia Dr, Winnipeg, MB, R3Y 0R5. Entombment took place following the liturgy, in Living Waters Columbarium.