CONDOLENCE MEETING IN KUWAIT
10th October 2003 was Goa Day organised by Goan Welfare Society. Santana John Fernandes along with his wife and tiny daughter attended this function and while coming home late in the evening he got massive heart attack. He was rushed to Adan Hospital at about 8.30 p.m. admitted to Intensive Care Unit but never recovered. Doctors did their best but everything failed. Dr. Cherian along with other doctors and nurses tried their best but nothing worked except the will of God which pronounced his death at about 12.45 midnight that is early in the morning on 11th October 2003. John fought against death for 4 hours and finally surrendered to the will of God. May his soul rest in peace and may God give strength and courage to his family to bear this colossal loss. The news of his death next day spread all over Kuwait amongst community members like wild fire saying �A Goan attending Goa Day function died and so on and so on�.
Yesterday 11th of this month was a month completed since he died. In Goa his family offered a Requiem Mass at his village Church Vagator which was concelebrated by John�s friend Fr. Gabriel Dias. In Kuwait City a condolence meeting was held by his admirers, friends and colleagues. He was a great lover of Goa and Konkani so also a great lover of Goan musical art. Not a tiatrist himself performing on the stage yet he loved tiatro and songs. He has the best collection of Konkani Audio Cassettes from the inception till now. He was strong promoter of Konkani art and involved in helping those who approached him for help in promoting this art though silentely but strongly. With me he associated in almost all the activities for the cause of Goa and Konkani during the last one decade. He did so much from behind the curtain yet he never volunteered to take credit for what good job he did. A social worker he would help silently many of the social causes, for the cause of Mother Teresa Mission he was regular donor, yet again silently. He would shun publicity as he was shy of it. He worked for Kuwait Airways during the last 24 years. A very devoted Catholic, a very obedient son to his parents and a very faithful husband to his faithful wife.
The condolence meeting was started with a prayer for the dead by Luis Cardoso and first addressed by Albino Fernandes (Church Circle) who in his few words described John�s good qualities in bringing people together by his good deeds towards others. Fidelis Fernandes the President of Konkani Heritage who was away in Goa during the time of John�s death with full of emotions described his and his family�s closeness with John and his family. He said in his death he lost a great friend and supporter for the cause of Konkani, Goa and KHK. Fidelis in his eulogy described the funeral of John at Vagator which was attented by a huge crowd including some of the topmost Konkani Stage artistes namely Prince Jacob, Jessie Dias, C. D�Silva, Querobina, Ben Evangelisto, Jane (Donald�s wife) and others. He also described how Fr. Gabriel while preaching his homily wept and made the congregation also to weep while describing certain best human qualities of John. The finale of the funeral was delivered by Konkani Romansi writer and musician Bonaventure Pietro who while lowering the coffin of John into the grave played on his magnificent Saxaphone a touching melody for about 3 minutes that brought tears on those who attended the funeral said Fidelis. According to Fidelis he never heard so touching musical piece during his life time. The president of Kuwait Konknni Kendr Elvino Rodrigues in his touching but very philosophical speech described John�s contribution towards Konkani cause thru KKK. John was deeply associated with KKK for very long time and volunteered to do anything for it to promote Konkani. Elvino while concluding said it was the duty of all friends and colleagues, so also well wishers to comfort John's wife and daughter so that she can feel that there is somebody who think good of her and her daughter. Renowned actor, director, playwright and songster Rosary Ferns in his speech showed his close relationship with John for the Konkani activities and especially for Tiatro. He said John loved tiatro, John loved tiatrists for this reason he took care of them while many of them many times stayed at his place and did their rehearsals including musical rehearsals. While concluding in memory of John one beautiful Mando �Janerak Kazar Mhonn Sangtaloi� was rendered by Rosary-Jessie-Sanny whose voices John always admired the most. This Mando was very favourite of John and most of the time he was heard singing this Mando at home. A. Veronica Fernandes compered the proceedings.
Those who attended the condolence meeting to pay their homage to John were: Cosme Coelho and his wife, Rosario Desouza & his wife Faustina, Hilton Pinto, Luis Cardoso & his wife Juliana, Maschita Cardoso, Diana, Mario Rebello, Elvino Rodrigues, Fidelis Fernandes, Ashton Savio Fernandes, Rosary Ferns, Albino Fernandes, Manuel de Santacruz, Sylvester Vaz, Domnick Araujo, Mario de Majorda, Joaquim Rebello, Joseph Desouza, Sanny de Quepem, Gilbert, Thelma, Jessie, Paul Alphonso & his wife and others.
A. Veronica Fernandes, Kuwait.
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