Angela Ribeiro, aged 96, daughter of DRGS founder, the late Dr. Rozendo Ribeiro and Margarida Ribeiro, passed away in Mississauga on Friday, May 10, 2013 after a long illness. Preceded in death by her husband Dr. Manuel Ribeiro, sons, Dr. Gerry Ribeiro and Hubert Ribeiro de Santana. Survived by son Olaf and his wife Nancy Ribeiro of Seattle and Teresa and her husband Oscar Quadros of Phoenix. Six grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren, daughters-in-law Lesley Ribeiro and Susan Wedgwood de Santana. Preceded in death by three brothers and five sisters. Survived by sister Rosalia and her husband Arthur da Costa, numerous nephews and nieces.

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Eulogy for Angela Ribeiro

Delivered by Manuel da Costa, Angela’s nephew.

I am honoured to give the eulogy for my dear aunt Angela who has lived a long life of ninety six years.

Angela was a woman whose faith was her strength, whose family was her support and who looked at her community to lavishly spread her love and service. Angela spent a life of faith and integrity, courage and discipline, love and service. She was kind and generous to many. She was of diminutive stature but her heart was big. Being quiet and reserved, she was not a woman of many words but her love shone through her service to others.

She was no stranger to adversity. At five she almost died from typhoid fever in Goa, but learned to appreciate nature during her long convalescing walks on Colva beach. When her father, Dr. Ribeiro, was sixty nine years old he suffered a heart attack; she and Manuel, her husband, lovingly nursed him back to health in their home and through this she learned loving-kindness. At the young age of thirty five her beloved husband passed on leaving her to raise four small children by herself, yet through all this she learned to be courageous and independent. Later she had to leave the life and relationships she had long-nurtured in Kenya and immigrate to Canada; however, as she built a new life in Canada, she gained an appreciation of multiculturalism and a new openness.

Through all this, her most important strength was her faith in God. She regularly attended mass in Kenya and was very active in church activities. Her faith gave her sustenance and the courage to face life’s adversities. It was also the foundation for the love and service she showered on so many.

We will all remember Angela for the various ways in which she touched our lives. She was truly artistically gifted and many here have something made by her very own hands or have indulged in a treat that she had cooked – a crocheted doily, an apple-faced doll, a cake, angel’s ribs or sesame seed snaps – always graciously bestowed on all with love.

In Kenya she helped many of the less fortunate who kindly remember her service to this day and always inquire about her with gratitude. Her generosity was unbounded as she generously helped shelter us before we immigrated to Canada as we had sold our house. In Canada she settled comfortably in her own condominium in Malton for over thirty years. She was a member of the Heart Walk at the Westwood Mall and never missed her daily walks, earning the Gold Medal Award for completing one thousand kilometers.

Her last eight years were spent at the Beechwood Retirement Home. Her courage, patience and tenacity were outstanding as she gradually succumbed to the ageing process. She was loved by all there as she stoically bore all her trials with tolerance and patience.

Her presence in our lives has taught us many invaluable lessons and she will always live in our thoughts and hearts.

In closing, I would like to recite a poem by an unknown author:

Poem of Life

Life is but a stopping place,

a pause in what's to be,

a resting place along the road,

to sweet eternity.

We all have different journeys,

different paths along the way.

We all were meant to learn some things,

but never meant to stay...

Our destination is a place,

far greater than we know.

For some the journey's quicker,

for some the journey's slow.

And when the journey finally ends,

we'll claim a great reward,

and find an everlasting peace,

together with the Lord.

Angela, our dear Angela, your brief sojourn here is over. Even though the body may be gone, your deeds and love will live in our hearts forever and your soul will be with God in eternity.

As they say in Kenya, “Kusha safari. Enda salaama, Angela.” The journey is over. Go in peace, Angela.

We have today learned the sad news of the passing away of Mrs Angela Ribeiro, daughter of the late Dr. Rosendo Ribeiro, the founder of the current Parklands School here in Nairobi.

On behalf of the current school stakeholders including students, parents,teachers, staff, alumni and the board of governors kindly pass our very sincere heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Mrs. Ribeiro. We pray the almighty God to give the family peace and comfort at this time.

The Ribeiro family is very special in our hearts for their major contribution to the education of the Kenyan child from the time the school was formed to today. To honour the Ribeiro family, we have started the formal government process of changing the name of the school to Dr. Ribeiro Parklands School so that the Ribeiro name will be remembered for generations to come. Additionally we will be renaming the school Library in honor of the late Late Mrs Esther De Souza Ribeiro.

May the almighty God rest her soul in peace

Kind Regards

Peter Gachathi Wanjama, Class of 1972

Chairman Board of Governors,

Parklands Boys High School, Nairobi, Kenya

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Once again the DRGS family came through with an impressive attendance at the late Mrs. Angela Ribeiro’s funeral, both at the visitation and at the funeral Mass. Our thanks to Fr Tony Fernandes (Class of 64) and Fr Ayres Fernandes (Class of 67) for offering masses, in their respective countries, on behalf of DRGS alumni. It was a testament to our sense of acknowledgement to the family whose generosity and vision made it possible for so many Goan children to receive adequate schooling and go on to achieve much success in their adult lives.

We came together, again, in a show of support for the Ribeiro family, proudly announcing the strong bonds of lasting friendship and affection that were cemented so many years ago at our beloved Dr. Ribeiro Goan School. When I looked around the Church and saw so many familiar faces, I was truly overcome by a deep sense of pride that I belonged to this remarkable DRGS alumni.

The Ribeiro family were very touched and gratified to realize that so many ex-students still enjoy such a long lasting connection with their alma mater.

Joan DoRosario

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The family of Angela Ribeiro would like to sincerely thank all her friends for their kind emails, cards and Masses offered in her memory. Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated and will always be remembered.”

Teresa Quadros

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