Obituaries

Date :18 Sep 2024

Tribute :My condolences to all of the family. She was a lovely lady. descanse em paz

Julie Santos

Date :28 Sep 2024

Tribute :My mother was a remarkable woman. She had a hard life, filled with pain and sacrifice, but she endured and became exceptionally patient and resilient. She was strong and held honourable values: courage, discipline, and generosity.When she was forced to slow down, she grew wiser and more compassionate. The light inside her shone brighter and more beautiful. Sitting quietly, watching the world around her, she could now see with great clarity. Peaceful, content, I greatly enjoyed her company. I remember her gently holding my hand and taking a little walk with me around the living room... so happy. These sweet moments with her I will cherish forever.There were times she wanted to tell me something important, trying to speak the words she wished to say. I reassured her she didn’t need to say anything. I knew. All I needed was for her to be ok. “Hi Mae.” “Hi Sweetie.” “Are you ok?” “Yes.” That was enough for me.On Saturday, July 27th, my mother had a seizure and was delivered to the hospital. It was expected she’d stay about a week, for rehabilitation, and then return home. A week turned into 46 days. Tragically, my mother fell victim to a terrible injustice and a nightmare from which she could not escape.My father, at her bedside every day, feeding her, tried to help. My sister, seeing and sharing what she saw, tried to help. My self, reaching out to her doctors, advocating for her, tried to help. Sadly, our efforts were not enough. What precious time my mother had was gone. What little agency, what normalcy, was mercilessly taken. She suffered gravely until the very end, in pain, in fear, and in darkness.In her last moments, it is my hope that she was finally given the kindness, mercy, and compassion she rightly deserved. She would be embraced in the serene beauty of the light in heaven... in blissful peace, joy, and love forevermore. Freed from the darkness in this world. Freed from the chaos and confusion. No more pain, no more suffering, no more fear... the memory of it all forgotten, forever. She would finally be free, for all eternity.This is the only thought that gives me peace... I hope this thought gives peace to you too.

Lucia Reis Ribeiro

Date :28 Sep 2024

Tribute :Uma mulher notável. Teve uma vida difícil, cheia de dor e sacrifício, mas sobreviveu e tornou-se excepcionalmente paciente e resiliente. Minha mãe era forte e possuía valores honrosos: coragem, disciplina, e generosidade. Quando foi forçada a desacelerar, ela se tornou mais sábia e mais compassiva. A luz dentro brilhou mais forte e mais bonita. Sentada em silêncio, observando o seu mundo, agora podia ver com grande clareza. Tranquilo, contente, gostei muito da companhia dela. Lembro-me dela segurando gentilmente minha mão e dando uma voltinha comigo pela sala, tão feliz. Esses doces momentos com ela guardarei para sempre. Houve momentos em que ela quis me contar algo importante, tentando falar as palavras que desejava dizer. Assegurei que não precisava dizer nada. Porque sabia. Só precisava que ela estivesse bem. “Olá, Mãe.” “Olá, Sweetie (querida).” "Você está bem?" "Sim." Isso foi o suficiente para mim. No sábado, dia 27 de julho, ela teve uma convulsão e foi levada ao hospital. Esperava-se que ela ficasse uma semana para reabilitação, e depois voltasse para casa. Uma semana se tornou 46 dias. Tragicamente, minha mãe foi vítima de uma terrível injustiça e de um pesadelo do qual não conseguiu escapar. Meu pai, todos os dias ao lado da cama dela, alimentando-a, tentou ajudar. Minha irmã, observando e compartilhando o que viu, tentou ajudar. Eu mesmo, comunicando com os médicos, corrigindo desinformações, tentei ajudar. Infelizmente, nossos esforços não foram suficientes. O tempo precioso que minha mãe teve não existia mais. Que pouco controle, que normalidade, foi cruelmente tirada. Ela sofreu gravemente até o fim, com dor, com medo, e na escuridão. Em seus últimos momentos, espero que ela finalmente tenha recebido a gentileza, a doçura, e a compaixão que merecia. E que ela seria abraçada na beleza serena da luz no céu... em paz, alegria, e amor para sempre. Livre da escuridão deste mundo. Livre do caos e da confusão. Sem dor, sem sofrimento, sem medo... a memória de tudo isso esquecida, para sempre. Ela finalmente seria livre, por toda a eternidade. É o único pensamento que me dá paz... Espero que dê paz a vocês também.

Lucia Reis Ribeiro

Date :31 Oct 2024

Tribute :RIP

John

Date :04 Sep 2025

Tribute :My mother was a good person. “Try your best to be a good person” And she was.Among my most cherished memories is watching my mother play on the swings with my daughter on the same swing set and park where she used to take us as kids. I also miss her laugh and her food. I miss this everyday.Since my Mother was diagnosed with Dementia I’m glad I got the chance to make sure she got to return to Portugal two more times with her granddaughter before her health declined too far to travel again.The past few years of physical decline before and during a pandemic were extremely difficult and we did what we could. In the last couple years she had several health crises and visits to emergency..When my mother was admitted to Burnaby Hospital after seizures and a stroke, she never regained the ability to swallow, which is what happens to so many people with this awful disease, especially the type of dementia she had. Within the first few days it quickly became apparent she would not recover and sadly not everyone in the family was able to accept and process this.The staff at the hospital were wonderful and did what they could but after numerous hospitalizations related to falls and multiple strokes and seizures,, the disease eventually took its toll.She was visited by family members every day and in her last moments she was with my Father myself and my sister Cristina. We told her we loved her while I played a playlist of Portuguese songs she liked. She was a funny lady and my favourite quote of hers is “no money, no funny”. I miss her everyday and I know she is in heaven at peace smiling down at us.

Paulo Ribeiro

Date :07 Sep 2025

Tribute :My mother was an amazingly strong woman who endured a lot in her life. She immigrated to Canada fromPortugal in 1945 for a better life for her children. She took care of 3 children under 3 cooking, cleaning, taking us to the park when she had time during the day while my father worked while working as a night janitor in downtown offices. She had a heart condition and had a pacemaker maker and was in the hospital frequently for surgeries then she developed dementia after battling beginning stages cancer. . She passed away at the young age of 77 on September 12, 2024. An amazing mother, wife, grandmother, cook, artist, she painted some beautiful paintings. She would make us delicious homemade bread when we were kids, lasagna, pizza, Shepard pie and her famous traditional Portuguese “ canja” chicken noodle soup for us and as well as her granddaughter when we were kids so she wouldn’t get sick. She loved the swings at the park and she spoiled our pet cat baby ( Lucy named our cat baby), with tuna, meat and milk. An amazingly strong woman that is deeply missed

Cristina Ribeiro