Condolences to the Villagra Family
The parting of a loved one is something that no one is ever prepared for. When it happens, it really tugs at the heart-strings.
With sad hearts, we wish to extend our deepest sympathies to the Villagra family, who early this year, have gone through the great loss of both their parents. May your faith in our Heavenly Father give you comfort and strength as you go through this time of sadness.
Both Patricio and Audolia displayed their love for God in the way they helped and treated others. Whilst living in Australia they worshipped with our believers at the Wentworthville Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement Church and were known to express that this was their church, a place where they loved to worship God.
Patrick, as some would call him, was a very happy man. He was a carpenter by trade and a very hard worker. He was always found present whenever there was any physical work needed to be done: at church busy-bees, at Elim Heights Youth Camp, etc.… Audolia was the love of his life, a beautiful Christian lady, hard worker, who always had a smile on her face, and quietly went about her business… but according to Patrick, she was the boss!
Sadly, near the end of their life, Patrick and Audolia could not care for each other alone any longer, so they spent their last few months together at the Adventist Aged Care in Kings Langley, where Patricio passed away on the 12th January 2018, leaving Audolia heartbroken. Not long after, on the 25th April, his wife also passed away.
Audolia and Patrick Villagra were survived by four daughters, their spouses and seven grandchildren.
Children: Patricia, Rosa and George, Lorena and Hugo, Raquel and David.
Grandchildren: Nathaniel, Laura, Natacha, Meisha, Matthew, Hugo and Shanel.
Brother Patricio and Sister Audolia are now resting until they will hear God’s voice calling them. We look forward to seeing them again in God’s Kingdom.
“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18.
~ by Lidia Voncina
Eulogies as portrayed by Patricia:
In Loving Memory of Patricio (Patrick) Villagra
4 January 1942 – 12 January 2018
“Patrick Villagra was born in Chile on the 4th of January 1942. He was the third child in a family of eight children.
He learned how to make furniture as well as carpentry trade skills. At 18 years of age, he enlisted for the military service in the Army and became part of the horse brigade for two years.
In 1964 he married his first wife, Ruth James, and the following year they had a baby girl which they named Patricia. Unfortunately, Ruth died eight months later, leaving him with his baby daughter. Since he could not take care of his baby girl by himself, his mother Maria took care of his baby until she was 6 years old.
Then Patrick was blessed to find love once more, so he married again in 1968. Dad and Audolia were blessed with three beautiful girls.
In 1971 his Auntie Raquel told him she was applying to go and live in Australia, so she asked him: Why don’t you also apply? So, he applied and was accepted to come to Australia. We all came over in 1971 to a place that was so different in language and culture, and yet we have become part of the thread of this country. Life in Australia became memorable and interesting.
During his life, Dad had always been a hardworking man, and he made life light with his witty comments. Dad could always make one laugh. He was the best storyteller, even with his broken English.
Dad loved his family, and he was always proud of his girls and his seven grandchildren.
He loved going to church and loved helping when there was church activities and physical work. He also loved being helpful to all those around him.
People always knew that he was around because there was always laughter in the air where he was present.
I will miss his phone calls and his witty jokes but most of all his big heart for his fellowmen and his spirit to live with joyful laughter to lighten the burdens of life.
We will miss you.
You may rest in peace, beloved father.”
In Loving Memory of Audolia Munoz Villagra
21 July 1942 – 25 April 2018
“My Step-Mum Audolia, whom I always knew as Mum, was born in the woodland plantations in Chile. Her life started with the death of her mother at her birth.
Her mother had given birth to twelve children, but only eight of her children survived. Sadly she did not have the chance to see all her children grow up.
Her parents were farmers in the woodlands. These lands were the new frontiers that the government had opened up. They were located far from the nearest town. Mum’s father did his best to raise Mum and his other children. He made sure his children had enough to eat. In those days when it was hard to even provide basic necessities like clothes and shoes for his children, he made sure that his children had the necessities of life plus a basic education, which would enable them to read and write.
Mum’s father married two more times. He was married the second time when Mum was seven years old, but sadly his wife only lasted a year. The third and last marriage was when Mum was sixteen.
On the death of their mother, her eldest sister Ovi (who was only twelve at the time) was Mum’s carer and took on the mother-figure. Her father gave her financial support.
During her growing years, Mum learnt how to read and write. Her sister Ovi taught her how to cook, and so from the age of eight, she cooked, using a large pot.
Mum’s sister was in financial difficulty. She was married to a man who worked in a steel plant stationed very far from his family, and he could not always send money to his family. Therefore, Mum prayed, and the idea came for her to sell bread to commuters in the morning on their way to work. Since she was a shy teenager from the country area, she was frightened at first, but prayed for the strength and courage to do this. She was blessed that she never had a problem selling all her goods and in this way was able to support herself and her sister’s children.
Selling bread every morning gave her sister Ovi the idea that when her husband returned from the mines, she would start a store in her house, and it became a profitable venture.
Later in her early twenties, Mum found the Adventist faith.
She was also encouraged to study – so she studied at night to become a seamstress.
Her occupation was going well, but it got interrupted by a tall young man with dark brown eyes. This young man swept her off her feet. (This young man was a widower with me as his only child). They got married in 1968, six months after they had met. From the date of her marriage in 1968 she would never be apart from her loved one.
Their marriage was a little rocky at the start, especially since they lived with her mother-in-law. Then in early 1971, Dad applied to move and live in Australia. He was encouraged to just live in Australia for two years. He was also told that this country was very young and still in nappies. With the money you make there, you can be well established back in Chile. When their application was accepted, they only had two months to prepare for their trip. At that time, she gave birth to her second child.
Mum did not want to move to this faraway country where they did not speak the same language. With a heavy heart, she followed her husband, moving to a country that was different in every way, not only in language, but also in culture.
After their arrival they stayed in a hostel where they had wonderful care, although the food was very hard to get used to. There they were taught English, but Audolia had a hard time attending classes as she had three daughters and one more child on the way. Mum cried thinking how was she going to give birth to a child in a foreign land where she could not speak the language. When she was about to give birth, she said to the nurse and doctor to treat her with kindness since she would have fifty more babies.
When dad was thinking of going back to Chile, the government changed, and they felt that Australia would be their permanent home and decided to become Australian citizens.
Then out of the blue a friend said to Mum, why don’t you join me at my work; the work is not hard, and it is at night. She began working for additional income for her family. Also, she was able to support her sister Ovi in Chile for the rest of her life.
Her saddest moment was when her dad passed away and she was not able to travel to Chile to attend her father’s funeral.
My parents worked hard and were able to establish a house. They helped their children as best as they could. Their greatest gift was their love and their work ethic, to become independent.
Mum and dad were like two turtles or doves that could not be separated from each other. They had been married for about fifty years. This was a love story of ups and downs, but they were always together.
They are loved by their four daughters and the seven grandchildren who survived them.
We will miss you.
You may rest in peace beloved Mother!”
~ By Patricia Villagra
