Birth date: Dec 26, 1943 Death date: Sep 9, 2021
Zosima Singh Paul passed away peacefully on September 9, 2021, in Richmond, California, with her life partner of 50 years, Dev Paul, by her side. She was 77. Zosima — also known as “Susie,” or “Zosie,” as her friends often called Read Obituary
Video eulogy by Vilma Balbuena(classmate). Click on link.
“Dear Zosie”
video link:
https://youtu.be/EKOg81k4Bx0
TRIBUTE TO ZOSIMA SINGH PAUL
I first met Zosima Singh Paul, Zosie as we fondly call her, in the sixties when we were classmates at the College of Chemistry at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in the Philippines. We were seated alphabetically in our class, her last name starts with an S and mine with a T, so we were at the same row.
We were not very close then. She was close to her UST High School friends. After graduation, majority of my batchmates, including Zosie left for the United States (US). I was left behind because I did not want to leave my immediate family. I lost contact with my college classmates for several years. Because of Martial law, I have decided to migrate to San Francisco in the US. I found out that my college classmates, Cora Tanega, Vilma Balbuena and Zosima Singh live in the San Francisco Bay Area. That was the start of our close friendship and get together, attending birthday, christening, wedding, and class reunion parties. We also took land tours, cruises, trips around the US and eating out or at one of our homes.
My first trip with Zosie was with Cora on the Hawaiian tour visiting three islands, Oahu, Kaua’i and the Big Island (Hawaii Island). It was a very enjoyable and fun trip. I remember, that every time the waiter served a large plate of the slices of papaya, the papaya immediately was gone as the three of us finished them right away. The papaya was very sweet and fresh!!!
Zosie already had her rheumatoid arthritis then but she was very strong and independent, did not want us to assist her or get a wheel chair for her at the airport.
My last trip with Zosie was on Princess Mexican Riviera Cruise that I organized for the Forever Young line dance group. She was not a member of the line dance group but Cora and I invited her and Dev knowing that Zosie loved and enjoyed going on cruises. There, I saw how much Dev and Zosie care and love for each other especially Dev to Zosie!!!
I received an invitation from Zosie’s daughter to celebrate Zosie’s and Dev’s 50th year wedding anniversary in Las Vegas on September 5, 2021. I kept on postponing sending my RSVP even after a couple of email reminders. Then Cora called to tell me a very sad news that Zosie was rushed to the emergency. I cried when I heard the news. I felt that it was a premonition why I kept on postponing my RSVP, that the celebration will not happen. I tried to call her while in the care home knowing she would not be able to answer but I felt I just wanted to leave a message for her. A few days after, I received that Zosie has passed away.
As I say goodbye to Zosie, I offer my prayers for the repose of her soul. May our Lord welcome her into His Kingdom and give her a special place in heaven. I also offer my prayers for Dev, her children and her family that they may find peace and comfort as they mourn the loss of a dearly beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend.
Zosie, we will miss you!! Until we meet up again!!!
Zosie was one of my closest friends during our college days. The only girl in a big family, she was Daddy's girl.
I visited and stayed with her in Berkeley shortly before she went home to the Philippines to meet and marry the guy her Dad had chosen for her. With the concept of a pre-arranged marraige unacceptable to my sensibilities, I was skeptical. But seeing her starry eyed, excited, comfortable, I soon found myself daydreaming , along with her, for hours on end. Her confidence was not misplaced. She could not have found a more compatible partner than Dev.
For decades, she suffered from the pains, discomfort, and inconveniences of rheumatoid arthritis. She took it all in stride--cheerful, good natured, never complaining, always smiling and laughing. It never stopped her from sharing a full and joyous life with Dev and their children. I truly admired how she lived her life despite her ailment and how she raised amazing, well educated, and successful kids.
To Dev, Sunita, Meera, Christine, Rajesh, and Sonia, my deepest and heartfelt condolences on your unfathomable loss. Farewell, Zosie, my dearest friend.
Rest in peace.
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Losing a close friend is losing a part of you. The pain is commensurate to your love of that person. Zosie, as we fondly called Zosima, and I shared many memorable experiences from younger years in high school, college, as awestruck new immigrants to California, newlyweds, working moms with young children and later on as grandmothers. My mother requested that Zosie look after me when she returned to the Phil. after my wedding and Zosie never forgot her words. We confided in each other our insecurities, troubles, heartaches, conflicts, and joys. Both of us loved to travel. Zosie enjoys reminiscing about our first trip to Canada on a long weekend, camping in Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, visits to friends and relatives when we were single and unattached. She was my veil sponsor at my wedding and became the godmother of my first born, Christopher. Through the years, we attended birthdays, weddings, christenings and other celebrations as well as class reunions, cruises, land tours, short trips, and just eating out. We enjoyed good food, shows, conversing and laughing together. One of her favorite expressions is "Diyahi" (how embarrassing) and another is "Kakabit ako sa iyo" (I will follow you where you decide to go). She was such a kind, caring, sincere, thoughtful, compassionate, easygoing, fun loving, joyful friend. We both lived sheltered lives growing up so we were quite naive during our first years in America and we laughed and giggled at our innocence and ignorance. Her face lit up when she spoke of Dev’s and their children’s accomplishments. How time flew by and our once sprite selves started slowing down but through it all, we tried to lift each other´s spirit up and moved on. Our Good Lord took Zosie home where eternal, blissful life awaited her. Rest In Peace, my dear friend. You are loved and will remain in our hearts forever. My heartfelt condolences to Dev and family. You are Zosie’s pride and joy. I am always here for you.
Cora Tanega Bernardo
