Alma ‘Toots’ Manuel
elevated noSXd February 1, 1968 – December 27, 2025
Visitation
Sunday, January 4, 2026 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Assumption Catholic Funeral Home
6933 Tomken Road, Mississauga, Ontario L5T1N4
elevated noSXd Livestream Link for Visiting: Option 1 or Option 2
elevated noSXd Funeral Mass
Monday, January 5, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.
St. Francis Xavier Parish
5650 Mavis Road, Mississauga, Ontario L5V 2R4
elevated noSXd Livestream Link for Funeral Mass: Option 1 or Option 2
elevated noSXd Interment
Monday, January 5, 2026 at approximately 11:15 a.m.
Assumption Catholic Cemetery & Crematorium
6933 Tomken Road, Mississauga, Ontario L5T1N4
elevated noSXd Livestream Link for Interment: Option 1 or Option 2
elevated noSXd Memorial Tributes
As expressions of sympathy donations to the Canadian Cancer Society would be greatly appreciated.
elevated noSXd Obituary
My beloved spouse Alma was known to closest friends as Toots. Recently, she taught the song “Like a Sunflower” to her students. The refrain included the lyrics, “so I turn toward you, to follow you, my God.” Alma, who loved and cared for our family and who was a source of joy for those who knew her, peacefully returned to her heavenly home three days before our 31st wedding anniversary. She was like a bright sunflower that followed our Lord in life and we will miss her dearly now that she is with God.
elevated noSXd Toots started her teaching vocation after graduating from the University of the Philippines. She made lifelong friends with fellow teachers at the Jesuit-run, Xavier School in Manila where she taught early grades for over a decade. We moved to the GTA with our daughters, Trace and Anne. God blessed us with CJ soon after. For the last six months during her sudden illness, our three adult children have been her source of strength. I have witnessed how our Mommy Tutti devoted her life to our children as their mother and mentor.
elevated noSXd Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall see God. Over the years, I have realized that Toots brought joy to countless friends – Amici, Balderdash, and the Girl Scouts from her UPIS days. She did bring people together with her laughter and humility. From her stories at the end of a long day, I knew she did the same for both her students and their parents.
elevated noSXd Alma cared deeply for her elementary students both from the Montessori as well as various DPCDSB schools where she taught. For the last couple of years, she has been at St. Brigid where she made friends with the most wonderful staff and teachers. I remember how she liked coaching basketball and volleyball. Alma loved helping with the school choir. She was proud to be a part of the Lion King production. Alma was extremely grateful to her colleagues who cared for her even more when she fell ill. They visited her both at Brampton Civic Hospital and at home. I now look at these teachers as my friends.
elevated noSXd Toots was the second of four siblings and is now missed by her sister, Irene, and brother Noehl. My mother-in-law Eden is heartbroken. I am certain that Alma is looking down from heaven at her youngest sister, Dulce. Alma leaned on Dulce most specially during the last few weeks; they have always been inseparable. We will all miss her positive energy, infectious laughter, and her spontaneity – she did love going places at the spur of the moment!
elevated noSXd As my beloved spouse was breathing her last, we were meditating on the Rosary of our Blessed Virgin. I whispered into her ear that many had been praying for her healing over the last few months. With her return into the arms of our Blessed Mother, I asked that she now pray for us that we may also spread hope and love just as I believe she did during her 57 years on this earth.
elevated noSXd We will miss your physical presence, Mommy and will always, always, have you in our hearts.
I’m heartbroken to hear about your loss. Your loved one showed such strength and courage, and they will always be remembered for the love they gave. Wishing you peace, comfort, and strength in the days ahead.
Heaven has gained a soul of light and love. Rest in eternal peace.
Sending you and your family my heartfelt condolences. Keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers 🙏
My condolences to the entire family. Very sad to hear this news. Mrs. Manuel you will be missed, you were a wonderful teacher who will always be remembered! May your soul rest in eternal peace and may God give your family the strength they need during this difficult time.
Our deepest sympathies to Mrs. Manuel’s family.
Ms. Manuel was my daughter’s teacher for the last 2 years and also her summer school teacher for the year previous. She always had a smile on her face and a big hug to give. She will be missed by all her students.
May her soul rest in eternal peace, and let the Lords perpetual light shine upon her.
Thank you for everything you’ve done for our family. Your kindness, strength, and love have touched our lives in ways we’ll never forget. You’ve always been there for us, and we’re so grateful for the care and support you gave. We love you deeply, and you will always live in our hearts
I will always know Toots as one of the kindest souls that I have met. Thank you for the grace of your presence in our lives. You will be missed but will always be remembered for your love.
Toots you left us so sudden. You have brought us joy and lasting memories. You will always be in my heart forever. Until we meet again.
We are deeply grateful for your generosity, kindness, and the love you gave so freely to the family, Ate Toots. You touched many lives in quiet and beautiful ways.
May God’s peace and comfort surround all of you, and may His love carry you through this time.
My dear Toots,
Thank you for all the good times we’ve shared.
Thank you for being an angel to your family, friends and even strangers around you.
Thank you for giving us joy in our lives.
Thank you for living up to the Girl Scout promise. You were the epitome of a scout, true and through…
– clean in thought, word and deed
– compassionate
– disciplined
– industrious
– law-abiding
– loyal
– ready to help others
– respectful of all living things
– self-reliant and
– trustworthy
Thank you for having been an inspiration to so many.
Though you’re no longer here in person, your spirit lives on in the stories we share, the lessons you taught, and the love you gave so freely. I will carry you with me in every step forward, honoring you not with sadness alone, but with the joy and compassion you inspired not just in me but in all of us.
Rest peacefully, my dear friend. You are deeply missed, endlessly loved, and never forgotten.
Safe journey my dear Toots. We love you! You will be in our hearts forever. ❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏
Our sincerest condolences to you and your family Jon. Sending you our love and prayers. ❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏
It is with sadness and heavy heart that I write this note. Mrs Manuel you have lived a blessed life doing what God sent you here to do- take care of His children. Your bubbly laugh and spirit will live on in each and every one of us. You have done your work here on Earth and God has called you home to be an angel around his throne. I will surely miss you taking pictures at all the school events but you will be creating beautiful pictures in heaven. Sleep well my friend and keep that beautiful smile in heaven. To the family please keep her smile going as she will be watching over you guys.
I am very heart broken that I myself wasn’t able to see her & even visit her especially during her time in the hospital fighting for her life . I will surely miss her dearly including my whole family. I love you Ate Alma “Toots” RIP with our Heavenly Father 🙏
Alma was a rare kind of human being — gentle, joyful, and deeply generous of spirit. She made people feel seen, safe, and valued, whether they were family, friends, or children in her care. She lived with faith, humility, and love, and she gave those gifts freely. The world is quieter without her laughter, but immeasurably better because she was in it.
My heart goes out to Jon, Trace, Anne, CJ, Dulce, Irene, Noehl —and to all family and friends – may God’s love embrace you all in this time of sorrow and may you all find peace in knowing that your beloved now rests in His eternal light, watching over you all with unending grace.
Writing this is one of the hardest to compose. A very loving mother, wife, sister-in-law, a friend gone forever. There is no word to describe how good of a person she really is. We will surely miss her, the family gathering, the videocalls. We will definitely include her in our prayers. We love you Ate Toots ❤
I am grateful for your friendship, Ate Alma. You will forever be in my heart, and the memories we shared with our families will stay forever.
My sincere and deepest sympathy to Mama Eden, Jon, Trace, Anne, CJ, Ate Irene, Dulce, and Noehl.
Praying you all peace and comfort during this incredibly difficult time.
I had the pleasure of meeting Alma at Rowntree. She was always so happy and you could tell she loved her job and the children. When ever she came into the office, we always had the best conversations at the photo copier. We always spoke about our children and when she spoke of her children she had a smile from ear to ear. She was so kind, happy and a beautiful soul and I feel lucky to have known her. Rest easy my friend. XO
May God almighty grant her eternal peace.
Mrs. Manuel taught our daughter at St Brigid and we can undoubtedly say she was a very attentive, sweet and very supportive teacher who will be greatly missed. Our deepest condolences to her entire family during this difficult time.
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Mrs. Manuel. She devoted many years to Rowntree Montessori Schools, where her gentle spirit, kindness, and love for teaching touched the lives of so many children and families. She will be fondly remembered for the care she showed and the difference she made in the lives of her students. Our hearts go out to her family and loved ones, and we extend our deepest sympathies during this very difficult time.
She was my Amazing 5th grade teacher. I will never forget her.
You are in our thoughts and prayers. During this difficult time, may you find comfort in memories shared, strength in the love of those around you, solace in the knowledge that your loved one will forever live on in our hearts. May God Bless you all.💐🙏🏽
I will always love her😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
I will never forget the memories we had, like when you’re going to be my new grade 4 teacher, the stories you told us, when you gave us free time, when we sang the kookaburra in the story time, and how your birthday was on February 1 and my birthday was on February 2. And now that you are gone, may be happy in God’s kingdom.
On behalf of the Manuel family, I would like to thank everyone who posted messages of support, love, and appreciation for our beloved Alma. May the Lord bless you a hundredfold. Thank you and God bless you and your loved ones.
I am very saddened to hear the news of Alma’s passing. Early in her career she did an LTO at St. Leonard. She was eager to put her hand to anything and freely shared her talent. She lovingly cared for her students and bonded with our staff. She lived out her faith in everything she did. My heartfelt condolences to your family.
Mrs Manuel you will always be remembered and in my prayers
When i first came to this school she welcomed me and gave me so many friends i miss her so much and i’ll never forget her and our best memorys.
R I P may you rest in heaven.
My deepest condolences to the Manuel family. Alma did some supply work at St Anne but I remember her mostly for her kind demeanour and smiling face when she’d pop into office to say hello when picking up her son CJ. My heartfelt condolences to all of you during this difficult time.
Thank you for everything you’ve done for our family. Your kindness, strength, and love have touched our lives in ways we’ll never forget. You’ve always been there for us, and we’re so grateful for the care and support you gave. We love you deeply, and you will always live in our hearts.
she was a great teacher i had her for grades 3,4,5 i will miss you forever alma toots manuel. she never told us her age and i found it out after she died.