Patria Plaza Caparaz

Patria Plaza Caparaz, R.N., beloved wife of the late Florante V. Caparaz, mom of Robert, Lauren, and Jason, mom-in-law to Tom and Liz, and grandma (“nanay”) to TJ, Bobby, Sam, and Emmy, and a pioneering member of a huge extended family in the U.S. and abroad (especially, the Philippines) has passed away today. She came of age in a time and place with few roads, no running water or electricity, and where travel by riverboat was the norm; eventually, she traversed an ocean and a continent for a new life and home in NJ. Despite a professional career cut way too short by illness, Pat was a proud nurse who loved to work. It was an identity that was hard fought and cherished; and its absence, a lingering ache. She will be remembered for her love for and loyalty to her family, her intelligence, will, and pride, an underappreciated – sometimes scathing – wit, and her generosity. She was a colorful outlier, often a challenging presence, and she will be deeply missed.