Hampstead, NH: Willa Patricia "Pat" (Canals) Mesa, 79, a resident of Hampstead since April, 1966, died unexpectedly Wednesday morning, September 9, 2020, at her home, six days before her 58 ^th wedding anniversary.

The fourth daughter of the late César Canals Lugo and Aletha Susan (Copenhaver) Canals, she was born in Bellavista—a suburb of Lima, Perú—while her father was on assignment by the US Navy during the Second World War.

Following the completion of her father's war assignment, the family moved to San Juan, PR when her father was hired by a worldwide engineering firm.

Pat and her sisters obtained their primary education at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Santurce, a suburb of San Juan, PR.

In August 1956, her father was transferred to the home office in New York City. The girls resumed and finished their secondary education at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, 91 ^st Street and Fifth Avenue.

Pat worked for several prominent New York City advertising firms as a secretary, during which time, she met her future husband, Jorge Mesa-Tejada, at a Sunday evening church dance in Queens, NY in January, 1960.

Pat and Jorge were married at St Jean Baptiste Church, 184 East 76 ^th Street, NY on September 15, 1962. They settled in Woodside, Queens, while Jorge started his career with Western Electric. Their first daughter, Patricia María "Tricia," was born February 17, 1964.

In July 1965, they moved to Plainfield, NJ, where they bought their first house. It was a short stay because Western Electric transferred Jorge to North Andover, MA in the fall of 1965. They moved again to their newly built home in Hampstead, NH on July 4, 1966, where she resided until her death.

On February 11, 1970, Tricia became the older sister to Christina María.

Pat thrived in Hampstead and New Hampshire. She loved living in the "woods" with her girls among squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, birds, occasional fox and lots of green space and endless skies—a far cry from the crowded, noisy and asphyxiating atmosphere of New York and New Jersey.

The girls' growing up years became a whirlwind of Brownies, Camp Fire Girls, field hockey, softball, and later, field trips and dances.

The willing volunteer, she helped as a CCD teacher, class mother and all sorts of tasks for the benefit of her girls and classmates.

After Tricia and Christina left home to pursue careers and eventual marriages—and grandchildren—she became their "go to" problem solver. She delighted in helping them decorate their homes, give endless advice and be available 24/7.

But, above all, she adored her granddaughters.

In later years, she enjoyed reading, solving word-find puzzles, cooking, Spanish soap operas and being a faithful, uncomplaining wife to Jorge.

She is survived by her husband, Jorge, 84, Hampstead, NH; sisters Susan Rizzi and husband Joe, Park Ridge , NJ; María Isabel Canals, Emerson, NJ; Clara McHugh, Greenwich, CT; daughters Tricia Palmer, East Hampton, CT and Christina Vuolo and her husband, Tony, Mahwah, NJ; granddaughters Victoria L. Palmer, Quincy, MA; Emma (Vuolo) Johnson and her husband, Matthew Johnson, North Chesterfield, VA; Anna Grace Vuolo, Mahwah, NJ; Steve Palmer, Errol, NH, father of Victoria; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A private funeral mass will be offered on Monday, September 14, at 11:00 AM at St. Anne's Church in Hampstead followed by burial at the NH Veterans Cemetery, Boscawen, NH.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Willa Patricia Mesa to her favorite charity: St. Joseph's Indian School, 1301 North Main Street, Chamberlain, South Dakota 57325.