Philla DaCosta

Class of 64

On Friday, January 21, 2022 our family endured a great loss. Our sister, Maria (Philla) Smith succumbed to sepsis.

Philla was born in Goa, India on 6/18/48 and grew up in Kenya, East Africa. She attended Dr Ribeiro Goan School and after a very successful career with Brooke Bond Tea Company in Kericho, Kenya, she immigrated to the United States and worked in the San Francisco Bay Area before moving to Glendale, AZ and finally settling in Las Vegas, NV in August 2017.

We will remember Philla for her ability to make everyone she met feel special. She gave freely to all those she loved, believing that the more love you give away the more there is to give! Her amazing creativity, talents in competitive sports while in school in Kenya, optimism and her love of deep faith in God, family and friends will never be forgotten.

Philla is preceded in death by her parents, Degolacao and Virgilia DaCosta and survived by her four siblings, several nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

A celebration of Philla’s life will take place in June 2022. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Global Sepsis Alliance in the name of Maria Philla Smith:

https://www.global-sepsis-alliance.org/donate

Link to Philla's Funeral Home Page

Click on the link above , then click on 'Memory Wall' to leave your condolences or share memories of Philla.

Inter Schools Rounders Champs (Class of 64)

A Tribute to Philla

By Melinda Rodrigues

My association with Philla goes back to our pre-school days in Kericho, Kenya where our parents met, possibly at a gathering of the local Goan community. At that time, Kericho had no English medium schools. Our paths crossed again when Philla was sent to Nairobi in 1954 to commence her education at Dr. Ribeiro Goan School and the same happened to me. Living away from our loved ones, as well as the familiarity and comfort of home at such an early age was not an easy transition for us both. My first day at school which occurred almost towards the end of the school year was one of bitter/sweet emotions. I can vividly recall being ushered to a Std 1 assembly area where a group of students were lining up. Petrified and almost on the verge of tears, my joy knew no bounds when a beaming Philla appeared from almost nowhere. The sight of one familiar face instantly lifted my mood. This little guardian angel took me under her wing and looked after me. Her caring attitude made a huge difference to my level of confidence, both inside and outside the classroom.

Philla continued her education at Dr, Ribeiro Goan School and successfully completed her schooling in 1964. Whilst most of us needed to be reminded about the importance of achieving well in our studies, Philla appeared to have developed good study habits quite early in her school life. She worked conscientiously and consistently performed well in all the subjects. I cannot recall her ever being punished or spoken to by our teachers for not completing homework tasks, disobeying school rules, being disrespectful or talkative in class. Always immaculately groomed, very soft spoken and courteous to everyone, she was held in high esteem by all her classmates.

Philla was gifted with enormous talent in sport, and displayed phenomenal agility, speed and strength .....whether it was in leapfrog, a crab walk or a handstand in a PE class, playing 'Seven Tiles' or kicking a rusty can in 'Tin Game' in the school yard, arm wrestling with any boy, brave enough to dare challenge her, deeply concentrating on a game of carrom, racing around the school table tennis table to smash a loose ping pong ball, actively participating in school athletics and representing DRGS in athletics, hockey, netball and rounders. The inner desire to succeed drove Philla to bring out the best in herself and those around her. She once said to me that being involved in sport was an antidote to suppress the trauma suffered during her primary schooldays. She also said that it brought her much joy and enabled her to be the best version of herself.

I was able to reconnect with Philla when she moved to Phoenix, Arizona. We spoke regularly and laughed a lot, recalling our school days at DRGS. Where my memory appeared to be hazy, Philla was able to fill in the details without any hesitation. She remembered all our classmates by name, would often inquire about everyone and expressed her desire to be able to meet them some day. She also spoke extensively about the highs and lows of her personal life - her devastation when she lost her parents in a car crash in 1971, and her struggle with occasional bouts of depression.

I feel privileged to have known Philla and to have shared some wonderful memories with her. The tears and sadness will always be there but I am comforted by the fact that she is in a better place now and forever in God's care.

Farewell my friend to the land of eternal peace. You will always be missed but never forgotten.

....A true friend is never truly gone. Their spirit lives on in the memories of those who loved them....