Obituary for Rita Mendes de Franca
MENDES de FRANCA, Rita -
It is with heavy hearts that the family of Rita Mendes de Franca (nee Duarte) announces her passing on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at Amica Unionville Retirement Home.
Rita, age 84, was the cherished wife of Vincent Mendes de Franca for 61 good years, the loving mother of Susan Mendes de Franca (John Carruthers), Debra Mendes de Franca Poirier (Marc Poirier), Mary Mendes de Franca (Steve Maxwell), Diane Mendes de Franca (John Baldassarra), and Vincent Mendes de Franca (Susan Arthur). She was a loving and beloved Grandma to 16 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and a much-loved auntie to 42 nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Vincent, her father John Edward, her mother Helen, and her brother John (Fanzia). Rita is survived by her sister Mona (Flavio, deceased), and brothers Desmond (Barbra), Gerard, Paul (Marcia), Martin (Shira), and Anthony (Astrid).
Rita will always be remembered for her warm smile, her strong Catholic faith, her hospitality, hard work and the beautiful home she kept. Born in Trinidad and Tobago on July 28, 1938, and growing up in Georgetown, Guyana, Rita received her high school education at St. Joseph High School, where she completed her O Levels. At age 17, she began working full-time at the Royal Bank.
Rita met a dashing young man named Vincent at a friend’s New Year’s Eve party when they were 15 and 16 years old. Vincent swept her off her feet with walks, bicycle rides and pleasant strolls along the sea wall in Georgetown. Always a loving and supportive partner, Rita moved with Vincent to Dominica after they were married on July 11, 1959. He was soon transferred back to Guyana where they lived in the flat above Rita’s parents' home on Murray Street. Before accepting one last transfer to Canada in 1981, Rita, Vincent and their growing family lived in Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Brazil.
Rita gained strength and direction from her faith in God, and volunteered for many years helping people outside her family. She attended weekly mass with Vincent and their children. They both gained strength and direction from their relationship with Jesus.
Rita experienced and embraced seamlessly many different cultures and learned to speak both Spanish and Portuguese as travel took her growing family to live in different countries. In every place she made home, Rita made life-long friends who grieve her passing with the rest of the family.
As a girl growing up in Georgetown, Rita took a major role in caring for the family household and her siblings, and she told many stories about her time in the hardware store her father owned. As an adult, she always opened her home to friends and family and was especially attentive to those in need.
Rita will be fondly remembered for many things, but especially the legendary Christmas feasts of garlic pork and pepper pot she lovingly prepared every year for her large, loud and extended family.
The family extends their gratitude to Rita’s housekeeper Josie Loberes, her caregiver Precy Miranda, Father Janil Joseph who attended her bedside and presided over her funeral, and to the entire team at Amica Unionville for the care they provided in her last years.
More than anything, Rita leaves behind a legacy of love . . .
A wife, a mother, a grandma too,
This is the legacy we have from you.
You taught us love and how to fight,
You gave us strength, you gave us might.
A stronger person would be hard to find,
And in your heart, you were always kind.
You fought for us all in one way or another,
Not just as a wife, not just as a mother.
For all of us you gave your best,
Now the time has come for you to rest.
So go in peace, you’ve earned your sleep,
Your love in our hearts, we’ll eternally keep
A private funeral was held for Rita at St. Patrick’s Parish, Markham on Friday, March 10, 2023. She’s buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, Thornhill, beside her husband and loving life partner, Vincent. Online condolences at newediukfuneralhome.com
It is with heavy hearts that the family of Rita Mendes de Franca (nee Duarte) announces her passing on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at Amica Unionville Retirement Home.
Rita, age 84, was the cherished wife of Vincent Mendes de Franca for 61 good years, the loving mother of Susan Mendes de Franca (John Carruthers), Debra Mendes de Franca Poirier (Marc Poirier), Mary Mendes de Franca (Steve Maxwell), Diane Mendes de Franca (John Baldassarra), and Vincent Mendes de Franca (Susan Arthur). She was a loving and beloved Grandma to 16 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and a much-loved auntie to 42 nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Vincent, her father John Edward, her mother Helen, and her brother John (Fanzia). Rita is survived by her sister Mona (Flavio, deceased), and brothers Desmond (Barbra), Gerard, Paul (Marcia), Martin (Shira), and Anthony (Astrid).
Rita will always be remembered for her warm smile, her strong Catholic faith, her hospitality, hard work and the beautiful home she kept. Born in Trinidad and Tobago on July 28, 1938, and growing up in Georgetown, Guyana, Rita received her high school education at St. Joseph High School, where she completed her O Levels. At age 17, she began working full-time at the Royal Bank.
Rita met a dashing young man named Vincent at a friend’s New Year’s Eve party when they were 15 and 16 years old. Vincent swept her off her feet with walks, bicycle rides and pleasant strolls along the sea wall in Georgetown. Always a loving and supportive partner, Rita moved with Vincent to Dominica after they were married on July 11, 1959. He was soon transferred back to Guyana where they lived in the flat above Rita’s parents' home on Murray Street. Before accepting one last transfer to Canada in 1981, Rita, Vincent and their growing family lived in Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Brazil.
Rita gained strength and direction from her faith in God, and volunteered for many years helping people outside her family. She attended weekly mass with Vincent and their children. They both gained strength and direction from their relationship with Jesus.
Rita experienced and embraced seamlessly many different cultures and learned to speak both Spanish and Portuguese as travel took her growing family to live in different countries. In every place she made home, Rita made life-long friends who grieve her passing with the rest of the family.
As a girl growing up in Georgetown, Rita took a major role in caring for the family household and her siblings, and she told many stories about her time in the hardware store her father owned. As an adult, she always opened her home to friends and family and was especially attentive to those in need.
Rita will be fondly remembered for many things, but especially the legendary Christmas feasts of garlic pork and pepper pot she lovingly prepared every year for her large, loud and extended family.
The family extends their gratitude to Rita’s housekeeper Josie Loberes, her caregiver Precy Miranda, Father Janil Joseph who attended her bedside and presided over her funeral, and to the entire team at Amica Unionville for the care they provided in her last years.
More than anything, Rita leaves behind a legacy of love . . .
A wife, a mother, a grandma too,
This is the legacy we have from you.
You taught us love and how to fight,
You gave us strength, you gave us might.
A stronger person would be hard to find,
And in your heart, you were always kind.
You fought for us all in one way or another,
Not just as a wife, not just as a mother.
For all of us you gave your best,
Now the time has come for you to rest.
So go in peace, you’ve earned your sleep,
Your love in our hearts, we’ll eternally keep
A private funeral was held for Rita at St. Patrick’s Parish, Markham on Friday, March 10, 2023. She’s buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, Thornhill, beside her husband and loving life partner, Vincent. Online condolences at newediukfuneralhome.com