Olga Machado

In  Our Hearts Forever Rest in Peace.

It is with our deepest sorrow that we inform you of the death of Our beloved Wife, Mother & Grandmother, Olga A Machado

In loving memory of Olga who passed away on 2nd March2022, after two weeks in hospital.  Olga was surrounded by family, her husband Mario, her children Orlando, Rossana, daughter in law Claire and sister Olivia.  Olga was born in Arua in Uganda on 24th October 1940. She spent her life dedicated to helping people. After completing her Teachers’ training, she taught at St Theresa’s Girls School in Nairobi where she was a popular and well-loved teacher. She continued her vocation as a teacher in the U.K till her retirement. Olga was a very active member at her Parish Catholic church.

Olga leaves behind her loving husband Mario, daughter Rosanna and son Orlando, daughter-in- law, Clare and Grandchildren Lucy and Daniel.

Olga is the daughter of the late Joaquim Manuel & Ivy Nazareth.  Sister to Paul & Juliet; Joe & Louisa; the late Ophelia and Olivia & Lawrence.  Nephews and nieces - Savio & Cheryl: Emanuel & Laura; Gavin, Merle; Kerri, Natalie & Stuart.  Olga also leaves behind grand nephews and nieces

Service will be held at St. Thomas of Canterbury church, Woodford Green, Essex, UK on Monday March 21,2022 at 11am followed by a private burial at Chigwell cemetery.

Sister’s tribute to Olga

By Olivia Nazareth

Ever since Olga’s passing, each day has been painfully sad.  I am heartbroken and I cannot put into words the loss I feel and the empty void left behind by my sister Olga.  I feel very lucky, proud and privileged to have had the experience of loving and being loved by someone so gentle, warm and caring.

When I was born, my parents were open to suggestions as to what to name me.  Olga was only 10 when she insisted on the name Olivia and Mum and Dad approved.  In recent years, we had a giggle about this and I told her that I was glad that she stuck to her guns and persuaded Mum and Dad with the name of her choice, as I didn’t like the other names suggested!

Olga has always been an example of what it means to put family first, even at a young age when unbeknown to our Mum she entered me into a baby competition.  Our Mum was besides herself not knowing where we were but was so relieved when we got back home.  When questioned, Olga said I took Olivia to a baby competition, AND she won!!!  Much later I had to remind Olga that was the first and last time I ever won anything in my life.

Our Dad worked for the British Government, HM Custom & Excise, and he was transferred to various parts of Africa.  Olga was born in Arua, Uganda on 24 th October 1940.  Our parents moved to Nairobi, Kenya and after graduating school she attended Highridge Teacher Training College in Parklands Nairobi.  Once qualified she joined St Teresa’s Girls School as a teacher. Olga was well loved and a very popular teacher, affectionately known as “Miss Olga”, a title that followed her throughout.

Olga was always immaculately dressed, from her well-groomed Cleopatra styled haircut down to her kitten heeled shoes.  She was a fashion icon to her peers as well as to her pupils.  She was my role model and whenever I got the chance I would sneak into her room and squeeze my feet into her shoes, hoping she would not know.  Despite my best efforts, Olga always knew that “someone has been trying on my shoes”.  My sister Ophelia would give me that disapproving look but never let on that I was the culprit.

Olga developed her knitting skills from our Mum.  Olga used to tell us that Mum would often knit and walk at the same time and remembered our mother knitting while at the same time pushing a pram with her tummy. On one occasion Mum and Olga knitted two sweaters within 24 hours for friends (Marleen and Marlette) in grief.

Olga had offered to look after her friend Teresa’s dog, Fluffy.  She made our whole family so happy because Fluffy then became our much loved family pet.

At school, the Nazareth sisters were described as Olga, the posh one, Ophelia, the studious one, and Olivia the naughty one!

Olga emigrated to England in the late 60’s and lived in shared accommodation with Phil, Martha, Ellia & Eugenia, in Paddington.  One of the first gifts she sent me from England was an orange coloured “tent dress” complete with collar and tie. The absolute epitome of a stylish 60’s dress and it was my turn to be the envy of my friends.

Olga worked at various schools as a teacher for over 40 years.  She would often talk about her former pupils approaching her at functions still referring to her as Miss Olga and recalling with love and fondness of their time as her students.

When I emigrated to England in 1969, Olga was at the airport to welcome me.  The first lesson she taught me was that I had to queue for a bus, the other being that it was safe to leave my suitcase in the luggage compartment of the bus, without me having to turn around frequently to check it hadn’t been stolen.  Things are certainly different in Africa.  I will be eternally grateful to Mario and Olga for looking after me when I first arrived.  They took me under their wings, gave me love and provided me with home comforts.  They even drove me through the streets of Southall in an attempt to make me feel more at home.

As siblings we made it a point to get together for birthdays and lunches that didn’t need an occasion, just siblings getting together for a good meal and each other’s company.   Olga and Joe together made the journey of love to Kenya to assist our frail and elderly parents on their final departure from Nairobi.   They stayed with Mario and Olga for a while before setting off for Canada.   I accompanied them on this leg of their journey where they settled with brother Paul and Julie.

Olga, Joe, Ophelia and myself made several journeys to visit them all in Canada.  On one particular journey when I went with Olga to celebrate Dad’s birthday.  Julie had ordered a chocolate and macadamia nut cake.  We were all enjoying the cake but I noticed that Dad had left the macadamia nuts on the side of his plate.   I asked “don’t you like these nuts?” He replied “No I can’t eat them” and offered them to me, and I was happy to oblige.  Olga was sitting opposite me at the table, Dad in the middle and Dad asked for another slice of cake.  It was then that Olga noticed Dad did not have his teeth, so he had enjoyed sucking the chocolate off the macadamia nuts before leaving them on the side of his plate.  Olga, with a grin on her face, cheekily asked “Olivia, more macadamia nuts?”  I smiled back and said “No thanks Olga, I’ve had quite enough for now.”  We have never forgotten this event and often laugh about this.

Only last year Mario and Olga so kindly visited me on my 70th birthday, and along with their very generous gifts, included was a cheeky packet of Macadamia nuts with a note from Olga which read “Enjoy, I know how much you like them!” We had many laughs.

When Ophelia first came to England Olga looked after her too.  They would go clothes shopping together and had a few holidays together.  Olga taught Ophelia how to cook and also shared a lot of her culinary genius with all of us.  Her tuna fish cakes were particularly enjoyed by all of us.

When Ophelia took ill, Olga and I took turns to accompany her to her appointments.  Olga never turned up empty handed, she did batch cooking and always had containers of home cooked food for the freezer, making sure that Ophelia always had a supply of food when required.   Apart from the food for the freezer, Olga would start a dish at home early morning and take it to be completed at Ophelia’s flat, so they had more quality time together.   They would spend time together knitting and even knitted a couple of scarves for me.  Ophelia enjoyed using her skills of Indian head massage and reflexology on Olga which Olga enjoyed and found very relaxing.

When Ophelia was admitted to the Hospice, my family gave me the strength and support I needed to spend the final few days with my lovely sister Ophelia.  The love of a family is one of life’s greatest gifts.

Olga was a brilliant cook and will always be remembered for her hospitality. I remember her cooking an entire Chinese meal from scratch for me and my friends to celebrate my birthday.  At family gatherings she would whip up a feast of snacks and Goan delicacies.  Her Jamaican caramel and chutney sandwiches were enjoyed by many.  Over the Christmas season, she was always busy baking mince pies and jam tarts to give to friends and family.  Olga has always been of staunch Catholic faith and was an active member in her parish church, visiting the sick and giving them communion.  She will be greatly missed in the church community.

After her retirement she filled her time with various other activities. She joined in Spanish classes and Tia Chi and attended to her garden which she loved.  She also travelled the world with Mario, but her biggest pride and joy are her two children Orlando & Rosanna and her grandchildren Lucy and Danny.

Olga was a gracious kind and gentle soul with the ability to strike up a conversation with any stranger, be it at a bus stop or an airport lounge.  She had a wonderful sense of humour.  Her warm and caring manner touched everyone who came in contact with her.  In her presence you immediately felt a sense of calm and tranquillity.  She always gave her full attention and listened attentively to anyone speaking to her, always able to impart advice and went the extra mile with offers help if required.

Olga, I have been blessed having a sister like you. Your love lives on in my heart and memories in my mind. You are a blessing and I feel eternally grateful to have a sister like you. To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die.

March 2,  2022