Below is an e-mail sent by Lira Pinto, Aldona, to her sister Arecia Paul in Toronto. An edited (by me - her son Cecil) version of this mail appeared in the Herald newspaper dated 27th June, thanks to the good offices of our fellow Aldonkar Vidyadhar Ghadgil.
--------------- Dear Arecia, My apologies for not writing earlier. I’m still recovering from the loss of my good friend, Annie. You remember her surely, the shop and pharmacy in the Aldona market - Martinho Lobo’s. Last time you were here we had visited her on 24th September, her birthday. Annie was struck suddenly by a heart attack on 30th May and was laid to rest on 3rd June at the St. Thomas’ Church cemetery. By the order of things I should have gone first since I’m older. But then they say God picks the best so who am I to question His judgment? Annie, Annie - where shall I begin? We were friends for a little over forty years from the time when I first stepped foot in Goa as a newly-wed. I actually befriended her sister-in-law Marie D’Lima first. Remember her Arecia? Soon enough I got to know Annie when she fell in love with and married Marie’s brother Seby. Annie and I shared a lot of common interests like cooking, gardening, dancing etc. She was an excellent cook and we often swapped recipes. She also had the proverbial green thumb. Her home garden is ample testimony to this, and every monsoon we would be exchanging plant cuttings. Another passion of Annie’s was dancing. She and Seby made an elegant couple on the dance floor - both tall, good looking and graceful. Annie also had a lovely voice and singing Mandos was her forte. She was the lead singer in the group Aldonche Bulbul, under the guidance of Fr. Santan Faleiro, that took part in the first ever Mando festival and bagged the first prize. Annie was also a great home maker with a flair for interior decoration. Arecia, you must have noticed how her home was filled with exquisite showpieces but still radiated with warmth – and a heartfelt welcome for everyone. Didn’t you notice the pride with which Annie showed you around her house when we visited? About four years back when Annie was diagnosed with cancer she sent for me and broke the news to me in quite a matter-of- fact way. I tell you Arecia I was completely devastated but she was very calm and accepting and trusting in the Lord. Since then she had been through so much with operations, chemotherapy and radiation, but she took everything in her stride and with the support of her family came through cheerful and smiling and ready to help others who were less fortunate. Some twenty years back when Seby decided to do a stint in the Gulf Annie took over the reins of the family business, no, businesses, and in spite of having to look after three growing children and run the household she managed to make a huge success of them all. She was also instrumental in starting the pharmacy. Annie’s Midas touch helped build all the family businesses into the successful enterprises they are today. Arecia I don’t know if you met Annie’s children Martin, Nirmala and Melwin. They and their spouses were her pride and joy. And her five grand children were the jewels in her crown. She enjoyed them and loved talking about their escapades, like every doting grandmother. I can only begin to imagine the pain Annie’s mother, Lizarda Pereira, feels on the passing away of her first- born. They were very close and more like friends rather than mother and daughter. Her bereft siblings have to deal with the loss of not just their eldest sister but someone who was also their friend and mentor. Seby will surely be going through a very hard time without Annie’s comforting presence by his side. I just hope he can take some solace in the fact that she is now free from all pain and happy in the arms of her Maker. Annie will be sorely missed not just by her family but also by friends like me who she took under her generous wings. When Fortunato was sailing away for months on end I would have been so much more lonely if it wasn’t for good friends like Annie who were nurturing and protective. The smiling photograph of her, placed alongside her coffin, said it all. No matter what she was doing Annie had a ready smile and a kind word for everyone. The massive crowd at her funeral proved how loved and respected she was by people from all walks of life. It’s been nearly a month now that Annie’s been gone. Arecia, please say a small prayer for her soul, and that we all who miss her so much can find strength to deal with our grief. With much love, Your sister Lira -------------------------------- Lira Pinto can be contacted at <fortylira at gmail dot com> ================
