Together again, Baptist and Aggie D'Sa
4 Sisters - Christine Gomes, Shelley Lavocah,
Glafy Goes and Cathy Moran. + Grandchildren 8, Great grandchildren 8
Eulogy by Cathy Moran: Aggie was 99 years old.
Thank you, Fr Healy and especially Fr Patrick, who is here on his day off. I can see
mum sitting with a big smile on her face, because her favourite Fr Patrick is here.
On behalf of the family, I would like to thank everyone for being here today,
especially those who have travelled a distance.
On Sunday, 15th June at 1.30am, we lost our beloved Mum_ or as some of us knew
her, the ever-moving, ever-cooking, card-playing force of nature. Today, we are
not just here to mourn her loss - we are here to celebrate a life well and
thoroughly lived.
Mum was born Agnela Josephine Fernandes on 14/12 /1925 in the village of
Aldona Goa. She grew up with 2 younger brothers, Sal & Thomas. She was small
but mighty - a trend that would continue for the next 9 decades.
In 1946 she entered into an arranged marriage with a very handsome man named
John Baptist D’Sa - our beloved Dad. She took one look at him and decided, “ yep,
that’s the one.” Thankfully, he agreed, and the two were married on October 22nd
that same year. Then, in true Agnela fashion, she did something incredibly brave;
she packed up her life and moved with Dad to Kenya. From Goa to East Africa just
like that.
Once in Kenya, she quickly made friends and then, more importantly, made food.
Lots of it. Her cooking journey began with some tips from the kitchen help but she
soon became the Queen of the curry and undisputed champion of the samosa.
She also picked up sewing and started making clothes for the locals. Honestly,
we think she just couldn’t sit still. If there was something to be done, Mum would
do it, and do it well, all while raising 4 daughters: Christy, Glafy Myself and
Shelley. Yes, 4 girls. So if you are wondering where she got her patience well, she
earned it.
Her first job then was reading punched tapes- an early form of computing that
involved staring at long strips of tape with holes in them and somehow knowing
what it all meant. It’s still a mystery to me, and I ‘m pretty sure NASA would’ve
hired her on the spot.
Then came 1969 and political unrest forced the family to leave Kenya. Yet another
international move – this time to England, If Kenya was a culture shock, England
in the late 60’s was like landing on the moon. But Mum adapted. She worked,
cooked, cleaned, parented and never once lost her cool — at least not in front of
us.
Most people would Stop after 2 major life relocations. Not Mum.
Her girls decided to move to Australia, and rather than be left behind, she and
Dad packed up once more and joined us in Sydney in 1982. That was Mum, never
one to be far from her family.
In Sydney, she “retired” – a word she interpreted loosely which, in Mum’s world,
meant working fulltime as a travelling chef, gardener & avid card player.
If you new Mum, you probably knew her food. If you didn’t know her food, you
probably still ate it, because she couldn’t walk into a kitchen without leaving
behind a feast. She would visit one of us, disappear for 10 minutes and re-emerge
with a tray of samosas and 3 curries “just in case”
Mum looked after Dad for all of his 90 years. And he never stopped calling her his
”little Angel”.
She loved life and she loved living it
Her energy was something else. Honestly, if we’d bottled it, we could have solved
the global energy crisis.
No naps, no complaints. Just go,go,go - unless Days of our Lives was on TV. In
that case the world paused. She knew how to programme the VCR using start and
stop times. Something I could never figure out. For the young ones, if you don’t
know what a VCR is don’t worry. Just know that nana was basically a tech wizard.
She also loved her grandkids --- everyone of you. You might remember her with a
tray of sugar toast and some slightly bossy advice, “eat more, eat more”! And
always always a deck of cards ready, whether it was chase the ace or 40 points.
Mum also enjoyed a small flutter at the pokies. But don’t be fooled --- she was no
reckless gambler. She had a system, a limlt and a sixth sense for knowing when to
cash out. We are fairly certain that the local clubs did not make any money from
her.
And then of course, there were the cards Rummy, 40 points, Trook and later
Bridge. She played to win – always politely, of course- but if you weren’t paying
attention, she’d have cleaned you out before the tea was served.
Mum loved life. She lived it fully, loudly, and with great purpose. She loved her
family fiercely. She loved visits, loud kitchens, full tables and laughter. She was a
woman of strength, spirit, and spice – and she left behind a legacy we’ll carry
forever.
To her children, she was our Guide, our example, our Rock.
To her grandchildren, she was Nana – Warm, cheeky, and always up for a snack
and a game.
So today, as we say goodbye, let’s remember her not in silence, but with stories
and smiles. Let’s remember the woman who never sat still, who loved hard,
worked tirelessly, and always left the place better than she found it – and always –
always - showing up for the people she loved.
Thank you Mum. Thank you Nana. We love you endlessly – and we’ll miss you at
the table, at the card game, and at the heart of everything we do. We know you’re
up there now – winning at Rummy, cooking up a storm, and still taping “Days of
Our Lives”, just in case someone misses it.
Thank you Mum, For Everything.
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