Thank You, Podonn
In Memory of Fidelis D'Souza of Pilerne, Goa
[24 April 1962 - 9 April 2009]
I am privileged to speak about Podonn and about what he meant
to me and what he meant to all of us at home. Fidelis was
actually my elder sister Vanessa's godfather, or Podonn, but
for all of us nieces he became our Podonn.
There was never a time in our lives in which our Podonn did
not play a significant part. He was there when we needed him
and he was there even when we did not ask him to be there.
And that is how we will always remember him -- as a guardian
angel who was always there for us. He will remain like a
series of pleasant memories, memories that are all the more
meaningful now that he is no more with us.
Fidelis was born at Dr. Sidney Pinto do Rosario's
hospital in 1962, but spent some of his earliest
years in Nairobi where our Grandpapa Martin worked
as a fingerprint expert for the C.I.D. there.
Then when he came back to Goa he studied at St. Britto's High
School in Mapusa and later qualified with an engineering
diploma from Government Polytechnic in Panjim. He worked at
Goa Electronics Ltd. which he left to set up on his own and
even worked for a while in Kuwait, but unfortunately the
diabetes that was to dog him throughout his life did not
permit him to have a long stint there.
Fidelis was always his parents favourite and indeed he was
like a son to all his aunts and uncles in the D'Souza family.
His mother, our grandmother Philomena, and he were
always involved with each others' lives right from
the time he was a schoolboy when they would both
set out to Mapuca, he to school, she to her
dressmaking shop 'Julia Tailors'.
Delis, as she would lovingly call him, would wait patiently
for her till she finished work and they would then come home
together. Truly, he was his mother's right hand and she
consulted him in all the decisions she took for there was
never a time when he would say no to her. And he was also a
great support to my mother Sabina, who had to lose my Dad
just like him, tragically young.
We all know what a wonderful husband he was to Cynthia who
has had to suffer a second terrible blow as her beloved
mother died just a fortnight earlier to her Del.
Cynthia and Podonn were a team that could not be beaten.
During his last days Cynthia was a pillar of strength and it
is heartbreaking that even though she did the impossible for
him it was of no avail. But this much we can say with
confidence: although his life was short, she helped him live
it to the fullest.
Fidelis was a great father to Pio, Elton and Fabiola. Yes he
was strict and firm when it was needed but he was also always
loving and understanding. He didn't push them to do anything
that was not in their nature and yet he would encourage to
the fullest whatever talents they possessed.
Thus he would take Pio and Elton to their football practices
and he made sure that Fabiola had the best piano tuitions
even making time to take her to far away Moira to her organ
teacher there. Podonnn used to always say that one should use
one's talents not just for oneself but also for others and
most importantly in the service of the Lord.
I am sure it was Fidelis' influence that has made
her follow in his footsteps in her involvement with
the Church, this same Church of St. John the
Baptist in Pilerne where he was so much involved as
its moderator of the Parish Council. I am sure that
he would have been most happy that his funeral
rites are being performed today on Easter Sunday, a
day which held so much of significance for him.
Podonn was a great lover of sports and in his younger days he
played many sports with great interest and as he grew older
he became an avid spectator.
During the cricket season, we had to serve him his lunch and
dinner by the T.V. set as he sat there glued to every ball
that was bowled. And he was a great fan of Manchester United,
something which his younger son Elton shared. However, Pio
who plays for Raia S. C. himself is a Chelsea fan. So you can
imagine the commotion when these two teams played.
One quality which endeared Podonn to everyone was his desire
to make others the centre of attention while he worked for
them tirelessly in the background.
Everyone remembers what a splendid master of ceremony he was
and we thank God that it was Fidelis who emceed the golden
jubilee of his parents and then the wedding of his godchild
recently. It is entirely typical of him that when in his last
illnes in his delirious fever he was saying that he would
make sure that his godchild's wedding would pass without a
hitch forgetting thay he had already successfully done that.
If Fidelis were with us today he would have liked us to take
the focus off him and not think of sad things but he would
have wanted us to look at the happier side of his life.
He would want us to appreciate what we have enjoyed together
and want us to grow closer to one another as a family. Though
he has gone and we are grieving and his passing has left not
only his wife, children and family devastated but all those
whom he touched in so many ways as can be witnessed by this
Church which is overflowing with his many friends and admirers.
I believe that Fidelis would want us to get on with our lives
and remember him by living our lives to the fullest. So my
Dearest Uncle Fidelis, I want to say we will remember you for
your jokes and your laughter.
You were a wonderful role model and a great friend. This is
not a 'Goodbye' but a ' Thank you, Podonn' for all that you
have been and done for each one of us every day of your life.
You will always live through us until we meet again.
...........................................................
This was the speech made by Melissa Rodrigues at the funeral
of her uncle Fidelis D'Souza on Easter Day, April, 12, 2009,
in Pilerne, Goa. Fidelis was popular and known in the area
where he grew up, schooled, lived and worked.
