Bertha Noronha

Apolonia Bertha Noronha, beloved wife of the late Gabriel Noronha, passed away peacefully at Edith Cavell Care Centre in Lethbridge on November 18, 2008, at the age of 90 years.

Bertha is survived by her son, Francis (Cybele) Noronha, her daughters, Felicia Vas, Prisca (Bosco) Baptista, all of Lethbridge, and Anita De Sa of London, England; nine grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by Gabriel, her loving husband of sixty years; by her parents, Albert and Maria Augusta D'Souza; all seven of her siblings, Mary, Tony, Amar, Angelo, Arnold, Amina and Catarina; and her sons in law, Braz De Sa and Eugene Vas.

Born in Calcutta, India, in 1918, Bertha, (or ""Aplon"" as she was known to some of her family and friends), led a long and eventful life. In 1935, at the age of 16, she married Gabriel Noronha and accompanied him to Zanzibar, East Africa, where Gabriel was employed. A year later, the first of their four children was born. Bertha's life now settled into the demanding role of being a devoted wife and mother, caring for her family through the difficult war and post-war years while creating a happy home environment for them.

By 1968 all four of their children were happily married. Gabriel and Bertha retired to their home in Goa, India. In 1976 they decided to emigrate to Lethbridge, Canada where the major part of their family was now happily settled. The loss of Gabriel in 1995 was a great blow to Bertha but she drew much consolation from the presence of her ""Canadian"" family around her and the frequent visits of family and friends from more distant parts.

Bertha was a people person and happiest when cooking up a storm for family and friends. She made many friends in Halmrast Manor where she and Gabriel resided for nearly twenty years. Her last six years were spent under the watchful care of the staff of Edith Cavell Care Centre to whom the family will ever be grateful, as they are also to her long time family physician and friend, Dr. Cal Stewart.

Bertha was immensely proud and fiercely protective of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. They in turn loved her unreservedly and learned from her example what ""family"" was all about. She was the heart of the family and her passing leaves a huge void. We were all truly blessed by her presence in our lives and will cherish our memories of her.

The Vigil Prayer Service will be led by Maureen Condon Horon and Alice Takacs and will be held at 7:00 p.m., Friday November 21, 2008, at MARTIN BROS. RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610 - 4th Street South, Lethbridge.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday November 22, 2008 at ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH, 318 - 10 Street South, Lethbridge with Fr. Tim Boyle, officiating. Interment will follow at Mountain View cemetery.

Flowers are gratefully declined. Those who wish may make a memorial donation to the Canadian Diabetes Association, 210D - 12A Street North, Lethbridge, T1H 2J1.