Funeral Oration for the Mass of Alex George Mendonca
St. Andrew's Church, Vasco, Goa
Saturday, 22 July 2017, 4.50 p.m.
On behalf of the family by Dr. Brian Mendonca
---------------------------------------------------------
We thank you for all for making a special effort for coming to bid daddy farewell.
We thank all of you for being part of daddy's journey.
We thank Fr. Jovito for saying the Mass and inspiring us with his homily. Special thanks to Fr. Gabriel Coutinho, parish priest of St. Andrew's parish for his support and cooperation in overseeing the arrangements for this service.
We thank the choir and Vinita D'Sa for being the chorus of angels.
We thank all the doctors who did their best for daddy.
Daddy was born on 14 September 1929 in Bombay. He was baptized at Holy Cross church, Lower Parel in Bombay. His father's native place was Parra, Goa.
He did his schooling in St. Stanislaus, Bandra and then joined Khalsa college, Bombay.
He excelled in playing hockey in the 1950's, as centre-forward for the famed Lusitanian club from which many players for the India team were selected.
He worked for Burmah Shell (now Bharat Petroleum) for more than 30 years and retired in 1987.
He got married to Alda Mendonca at Holy Cross church, Lower Parel on 1 February 1959. Mummy and daddy gave us three children --Kevin, Vanessa and myself -- a home and family of love, laughter and living.
Dad was a traveller, having visited several parts of India on work. He took the family too for memorable holidays across the country. He was a devoted husband, a loving father and a doting grandpa.
In 1977 dad came with his family to Goa. He was the founder member of the senior citizens of Vasco and was felicitated on their 18th anniversary.
He gave back much to society with his time, his good counsel, financial support and most of all his wit and humour. He was an avid reader and a writer par excellence.
Mummy passed away in 2004 and daddy became mum and dad for us.
Ill-health overtook him and since December last, the writing was on the wall.
But, like a sportsman, dad never gave up.
In every stint in hospital he radiated his charm, his patience and immense faith in God.
In the pre-dawn hours of 20th July he slipped away without a murmur. He was 55 days shy of his 88th birthday. He had lived a full life.
The Mass reading for the day was, 'Come to me all you who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest.'
Goodbye Daddy.
You were the best.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Studio photo of mum and dad on the occasion of their wedding on 1 February 1959. A few more inputs added to the oration.
Comments