Michael Britto passed away Friday, July 10, 2020. Husband to Alice Britto, deceased, loving father to Malcolm (Sylvia) Britto, Anthea (Dan) Murrell and Marwin (Sarah) Britto. Cherished grandfather to Kenneth and Vanessa Murrell, Marcello, Kiara, Dante, Roman and Marah Britto.

The funeral for Michael Britto took place July 18th and was recorded for those who were unable to travel to St Michael the Archangel in Belleville.

To view the video via facebook, click here

A Thanksgiving mass in memory of Michael Britto will take place on August 15, 2020 at 11:00 am at Our Lady of the Scapular Church in Niagara Falls, Ontario. All are welcome.

On the day, the mass will be Livestreamed on the Facebook page of Our Lady of the Scapular Catholic Church.

Condolences to: malcolm_britto@hotmail.com

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Mike Britto - Remembered

Michael Britto was born August 28, 1928 in Goa, which was then a Portuguese colony off the West coast of India. His first language was Konkani, a Portuguese-Indian dialect; he picked up his second language as soon as he entered Portuguese elementary school and he learned English when he started high school. Though he had ambitions of becoming a doctor, further education was financially difficult since he was the youngest of five children and had lost his father at an early age. So, supported partly by an older brother, Mike instead completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in English at Bombay University. At this time teachers were needed desperately in Goan schools, and Mike and other university graduates were offered teaching positions with "on-the-job" training. With those two years of experience Mike was then accepted to teach high school English and French in Nairobi, Kenya in East Africa. There, between badminton championships, coordinating school sports events, and taking off on safaris, Mike met and married an attractive English teacher teaching in the same school and also from Goa: Alice Botelho.

They had three children: Malcolm , Anthea , and Marwin , and they enjoyed a leisurely lifestyle, as Mike learned to speak a fourth language, Swahili, to the African servants. In the next few years Mike earned his Teacher Training Certificate in London, England, was a First Aid Instructor for Cadets as well as adults back in Nairobi, and replaced the headmaster (school principal) during his year's leave. He also received long-service awards (over 25 years) both in Scouting and as a member of the St. John's Ambulance team. Then word was out that Kenya, a British colony up to that time, would soon claim independence; so Mike and Alice decided to move to that far-off land of wealth and snow, Canada.

They settled in Niagara Falls, both teaching for the Welland County Separate School Board. For the next few years they spent many evenings and most of the summer vacation taking courses to upgrade their degrees that were not fully accepted in the Canadian system. Mike then finished his M.A. degree at Niagara University in Niagara Falls, New York, qualifying him to work as a Teacher-Diagnostician testing for and diagnosing learning problems in children.

Since his arrival in 1969 in Canada, Mike has been an active member of Our Lady of Scapular Parish, serving as Commentator, Auxiliary Minister, a member of the Parish Council, the Catholic Council of Men, the Parish Choir, and the core team of the Renew Program. His contributions as a Scout and Cub Leader and as an instructor for the Wood Badge course for Scout Leaders were instrumental in reviving the Boy Scouts movement in the Parish.

Mike Britto joined the Knights of Columbus Hennepin Council 1652 in June of 1977 and immediately became an active member. Mike has held various positions such as Guard, Church Director, Chancellor, Deputy Grand Knight, Grand Knight and District Deputy. He has also been actively involved with the Squires. Mike is a degree Master of the First Degree Team and the Conferring Officer of the Second Degree Team. Mike also became a Fourth Degree Knight of Fr. Hennepin Assembly 1831 in June of 1979 and served as Navigator in 2001.

MIKE BRITTO THE VOLUNTEER

Mike has been a volunteer since his teaching days at the Goan High School in Nairobi, Kenya. He was a Cub Master, Scout Master and Group Scout Master. He also served in the St. John's Ambulance service. He received 'long and faithful' awards from these two organizations. He also coached soccer and badminton at his school and a local club.

Arriving in Canada in 1969, Mike continued with his scouting and revived scouting at Our Lady of the Scapular church. He served on the Service Team and instructed the Wood Badge Course which is the highest qualification for a Scout.

Mike was aware of the traumas and difficulties experienced by new immigrants so he again volunteered to teach English to the recent arrivals. Since most were from Spanish speaking countries, he learned Spanish attending night classes at Niagara College.

Our Lady of Scapular Parish has benefited greatly from Mike's services as a commentator, an auxiliary minister, parish council member, member of the Holy Name Society, parish senior choir member, member of the RCIA program, Parish Team Ministry, and the Core Team of the Renew Program. He also assists in lecturing and serving at daily Mass, a Minister of the Eucharist and a member of Development and Peace.

Since his retirement from the WCRCSS Board, he has continued his busy life of involvement and volunteering both in his community and parish. Mike now has time to enjoy his grandchildren and keeps in touch with his sons via the Internet (e-mailing) and is becoming proficient with his computer skills.

MIKE BRITTO THE KNIGHT

Mike joined the Niagara Falls Knights of Columbus Hennepin Council 1652 in 1977. He became very active in the Knights, taking special interest in church and family activities. In 1979, Mike became a Fourth Degree Sir Knight in the Fr. Hennepin Assembly 1831. Mike was elected Grand Knight of Council 1652 in 1984 and served his Council for 2 years until 1986.

As a member of the Knights of Columbus Hennepin Council 1652, Mike held various positions in the executive, ranging from Guard to Grand Knight. He formed the present First Degree Team when he became Grand Knight and was the Captain of the Team for three years. Mike is also the Conferring Officer of the Second Degree Team, a position he cherishes and holds to this date.

In 1993, Mike was elected District Deputy for District No. 64. He was well suited to this position and got along famously with the 4 councils in his district; especially St. Antoine Council 9253 - the French Council - for Mike is fluent in both French and English (and Swahili/Spanish/Italian).

After 'retiring' in 1995 from the District Deputy position, he continued his involvement in the Knights of Columbus by serving in 2001 as the Navigator in the Fourth Degree Fr. Hennepin Assembly 1831. Mike remained active in the Council, Assembly, and as the 2nd. Degree Master, well into his 93rd year.

Mike completed his volunteering efforts and passed quietly in his sleep July 2020, in Belleville, Canada.

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Michael Britto (1924 – 2020)

I am sad to inform you of the passing of my father, Michael Britto, on Friday July 10, 2020 at 3pm at the Hour of Mercy, peacefully in his sleep in Belleville, Ontario. I am glad to inform you that he had a full and wonderful life, of over 95 years.

Given his life’s dedication to teaching, you may have known him as a teacher at the Dr. Ribeiro Goan School in Nairobi, or Holy Name School in Welland, or as a colleague at the Welland County Separate School Board. Or you may have had him as a Scoutmaster, or a fellow member of the St. John’s Ambulance.

With his penchant for continuous learning, maybe you were a fellow student with him, at the University of Bombay, or the University of London, or Brock University, or Waterloo Lutheran University or Niagara University. Maybe you studied French or Spanish together at Niagara College.

Perhaps you recognized his athleticism from the football pitch with Nairobi Heroes, or at the badminton tournaments, or volleyball courts in Kenya, England and Canada.

You may have met during his community service as member of the Knights of Columbus, or been conferred by him as part of his Second Degree leadership team or a fellow Grand Knight or District Deputy or Faithful Navigator. Strong in his faith, you may have been a fellow lector or parish council member or choir member at Our Lady of the Scapular Church in Niagara Falls, or at St. Michael’s in Belleville. You could have shared responsibilities at the Holy Name Society, or at RCIA, or as part of Development and Peace. Or you might have followed the Rosary which he led every October and May. Perhaps you saw his social side and sense of humour as he played bridge or euchre or dominoes at Dufferin Place or Stamford Estates or Bayview Retirement, or sang old folk songs in Konkani. Or you were on a cruise ship or bus tour with him and Alice on his world travels, as he regaled you with story after story, usually with a twist.

In the past year, you may have been one of the numerous emergency care professionals, or one of the passionate Blessed Bridges PSWs taking daily care of him, while still managing to exchange smiles.

Or you know him as an uncle, a cousin, a brother-in-law, a grandfather or a friend.

I know him as a loving father. Someone who took me on safari with him when I was little, someone who taught me how to trap a ball, watched me grow up, graduate, get married, have children, and who visited us and shared in our lives in every country we lived in.

My family and I would love to know how you remember Michael. Please share a thought or a memory – a keepsake for his grandkids and their children.

Take a minute, and record a short video here: https://www.tribute.co/michael-britto/

Thank you!

Malcolm Britto

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Related Links:

Steele Funeral Home: Michael Britto Page Tribute Wall: To post memories/condolences

Video: Michael Britto sings "Now is the hour"

Michael Britto Celebrates 93rd Birthday, Sept 2, 2017

Michael Britto Get-together

Michael Britto Bio