Class of '67

24 Jul: London. YOLANDA DOS REMEDIOS. Ex Nairobi, nee Yolanda D'Costa daughter of Peter and Faustina D'Costa of Nairobi, sister to Peter D'Costa. Wife of Avito. Mother of Lavinia and Janine. Her zest for life will be deeply missed by her family and friends who loved her dearly. She was greatly cherished by all.

Condolences to dosremediosjanine@gmail.com

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Mama Yol

A Eulogy by Lavinia, Yolanda’s eldest daughter

and Janine, the baby of the family, aka Bitu.

Mama Yol this will be a long goodbye - for we can’t imagine a day without you in our lives. Your laugh, your smile your prawn curry recipe.

Mum was born in Nairobi Kenya to Peter D’costa and Faustina Rodriguez and was Peter junior’s little sister. She had an incredible childhood, where she walked five miles a day to school and back. She was a rebellious teenager and her friends spoke to each other in their own invented P language. Her father was the president of the Goan Club - so her home was always filled with people. Family and community were an important part of her life.

However tragedy struck when mum was 21 years old, and she suddenly lost her mother. I think this gave her the wings to leave her beloved Africa and head to English soil, where she quickly settled into hostel life and London’s vibrant scene swimmingly with her band of trusted friends from back home in Kenya.

One important element happened before she left and that is the chance encounter with our dad- who had himself escaped Zanzibar during the revolution. He had been given the name of our grandfather as a contact to help him obtain a passport. He was planning to travel to the States to study Biomedical engineering and have a heart

operation.

It was love at first sight when pops clapped his eyes on his African queen. When mum went on holiday to Goa she sent her young admirer a postcard that simply said ‘From Goa with love’. This started the beginning of their relationship by good old fashioned written correspondence.

Over the course of three years and several phone calls, they got to know one another and one day dad wrote; ‘My friends are getting married, when will it be our turn to walk down the aisle?’ He then posted the letter and called her to find out her answer, she said ‘Yes’ of course. She knew that she had found her soul mate. They shared their first kiss at the airport when they met after all that time.

They were married in Storrs, Connecticut not long after dad’s graduation and honey mooned with her bridesmaid Sarah and best man Mohammed at Cape Cod and later went to see the Montreal Olympics. The young couple then travelled to Iran where dad taught and mum was a secretary at an oil company.

I was born a couple of years later in the UK-mum’s cousins Doreen and Nelson housed the new parents to be- but dad’s new job soon took him to Al Ain. Little Janine followed four years later and the family was complete. We grew up in the heat and desert of the Middle East; in the United Arab Emirates with all the joys of compound life from Tawam Hospital. After eight years of the ex-pat good life, we decided to head ‘home’ to Sunbury where we still are today. Mum loved the local walled garden where she would go for walks and look at the beautiful roses and flowers contained within the four walls.

Our grandmothers love of cooking was handed down to our mother who in turn has inspired our own love of cooking. Everyone in our family has at some point been employed as her sous-chef - following her kitchen commands. Her curries were delicious and I would always try to taste some before they were cooked, taking a piece of meat from the pan, where she would always say, ‘Take a saucer and spoon man, put it on a plate’. She loved to cook and shared her gift with others. Whenever we visited the Butt’s for lunch Carmen’s chicken curry was always followed by mum’s signature trifle as she knew that it was loved by all. We will miss cooking with you but will cherish the memories we have. You were and always will be our master-chef.

After mum passed away, our digital TV box broke. The whole hard drive had to be wiped. We would like to think that mum engineered this event from heaven and is sitting up there watching Eastenders and Tennis and all her favourite programmes.

When I think of mum, we feel blessed to have had her as a mother because she was able to share her love of life and spirit of adventure. She taught us to explore everything the world has to offer, to be bold and fearless. She was the best.

Mum, you inspired me even when i didn't realise it. You have shaped Lavinia and I into the women that we are today, you were the greatest role model we could ask for. Not only did you bring us into the world, but you allowed us to be ‘us’ whilst at the same time showing us the right direction, thank you.

Mum was thoughtful, loving, caring, strong and always had a smile on her face even when times were tough. She was our rock. Mum you have touched everyones hearts with your thoughtfulness and kindness.

Yolanda, you were an english rose and an African queen, a diamond, our mom, a scrabble diva, a gentle elephant, a drop of blood, an angel, a cup of sunshine on a rainy day, our teacher, a comedian, an aunty, a role model, an inspiration, a best friend, our number one supporter and a soul mate.

Au -revoir, goodbye, adieu mama, we love you and you will forever be remembered in our hearts.

May you forever rest in eternal peace with your mother, father, brother and friends.

Amen.