Martha Joanes

Dear Family & Friends

Re: Martha Joanes – formerly from Nairobi, Kenya

On behalf of all our family, this note is to extend our sincere love and thanks to you all for the messages of condolences, sympathies and prayers received from so many of you, who knew Martha, going back to our Kenya days. It has been heart-warming and a source of much comfort and strength, to the family, to learn of the number of lives Martha touched, going back to her school, college and teaching days in the 1950’s/60’s.

We know fully well the great pleasure Martha used to feel whenever she came across any old friends or acquaintances. Some years ago, when she passed through the UK, she was taken to a school reunion that was being held in Croydon, London. She returned so overjoyed in catching up with former acquaintances which left a lasting impact on her. Likewise, she took much delight in keeping up with news of schoolmates on the excellent Dr Ribeiro Goan School website. From a friend, Maria Moniz, who knew Martha during their primary, secondary and teachers training days, we learnt that the Teacher Training College in Nairobi they attended was called Kenyatta College and the Missionary High School she taught at, after attending

that college in Kilungu, was Precious Blood Secondary School.

Martha had three difficult years health-wise. However, she was always insistent and determined to live in her own home in Walnut Creek, California. The last year took a very heavy toll on her, but mercifully she was alert, communicative and sound of mind up to the end. It was from then she had to depend on daily carers attending to her. She was thankful to these social-care agency workers and bonded well with them. So often, we come across that expression: ‘What a small world we live in.”  Martha’s following experience dated March 4, 2023, forwarded to the family as an email, will resonate with many of us who hail from East Africa. Thought I will share this with you as we thought it was just unbelievable when we first learnt of it.

“ …. I have found a new group of caregivers. The first one that came was from Zimbabwe and has been in this country just 4 months. Don’t think she has much experience but she tries and I like her. She told me that their supervisor came from Kenya. So, when the supervisor came, I told her that I grew up in Nairobi. She was excited since she worked there. We chatted and she told me how she rescued abused and mutilated girls and took them to a safe-haven, a place called ‘Maria House’. I stared at her and said: “That was our house!!”  They have turned the house into a (vocational) school now with 12 sewing machines in the living room and train the girls to sew and cook in the kitchen with the real marble counter tops. (I know you know all this, but I am so glad Our Dear Lord sent me a reminder of my blessings).

I am so proud of my earthly father for using his gift to design and build that big beautiful house (in Eastleigh, Nairobi) for his family. I remember the many times he took me with him (as a little girl in the 1950’s) to make sure they watered the foundation properly! I thank our heavenly Father for showing me how He uses good work to bless future generations! Most people will never see the fruits of their labour. I am so grateful to see

father’s now, so many years later. …….”

Just to fill you in into the background of this story, Martha’s father, Joaquim Salvador Joanes, had built ‘Maria House’ for the family, as was quite common with many in the Goan community during our time in East Africa. In the 1960’s, the family emigrated to the UK, USA and Goa. Martha’s eldest sister, Maria, a teacher at the Dr Ribeiro Goan School, was the last family member left in Nairobi. She bequeathed the house to the American Catholic Foreign Mission Society: Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers, underlining for educational purposes, before she left for Goa/USA.  

Quite some family experience this, after all these years. Thanking you once again for your sympathies and prayers.

Love

Marci(ano), Agnela & family

02 August 2023