Obituary of Clarissa Fernandes

Clarissa (Clarie) Mary Therese Fernandes April 4, 1932 - May 20, 2011 With dignity, grace and equanimity, Clarissa Fernandes (nee Mathias), surrounded by loved ones gently passed away during the fifth decade of the rosary. As she lived, so she died. Clarissa formerly of Lloydminster passed away in Calgary Her legacy continues through; daughters Fif Fernandes (Hamish Boyd), Rosemarie Scott (Jonathan), niece Louise Fernandes; precious grandchildren Mija and Sebastian from Calgary; sisters Terry Vaz in India, and Irene Montemayor (Jess) in the Philippines, numerous relatives, friends, her students and those lives she touched around the world. Clarie was predeceased by Anthony (Tony), her husband of 37 years, sister Dr. Florence (Florrie) Fernandes, brother-in-law Joseph (Joe) Fernandes, Sr. Irene Mathias FMM, and her parents. Clarie, the third of five daughters born to Raphael and Juliet Mathias in 1932, in Mangalore India was an avid reader, traveller and lover of world politics. She was a woman of immense faith and gentleness. Her greatest passion was teaching. She loved literature and history. And she spoke seven languages. Upon graduating with a BA, at the age of 20, she commenced her teaching career in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Later she obtained her B.Ed. In 1958 she married Anthony. In a double wedding her elder sister Florrie married Tony's elder brother Joe). Clarie and Florrie moved to Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania, Africa to be with their new husbands. Clarie soon became the head of the English Department at a girl's Aga Khan school where she directed numerous Shakespearean plays and other classics. Over the course of her life, she taught in public, Catholic, and private schools in India, Tanzania and Canada. In 1965, she secured a teaching position in Wainwright, Alberta, and Tony and Fif with her in October to Canada. Tony, found work with Husky Oil, and would drive to Wainwright every weekend and bring Clarie to Lloydminster. In the spring of 1966, the family made Lloydminster home. Florrie and Joe immigrated to Lloydminster with their young daughter Louise. Rosemarie was soon born to Clarie and Tony and the two families had many friends and found happiness in Lloydminster. Clarie, an exceptional and devoted teacher, taught in Lloydminster for many years. She was very involved with St. Anthony's Parish and volunteered for many years with the Association for Mentally Handicapped (as it was called then). After Tony passed away in 1995, Rosemarie, Louise and Fif convinced Clarie to relocate to Calgary in 2000, where she was blessed with many friends who stimulated her intellectual appetite, love for the arts and her continued exploration of spirituality. For the last few years, she was in constant pain from debilitating arthritis, yet she never complained and maintained a kind and sweet disposition. For the last six months she found great joy in living with Hamish and Fif. At their home, her family and friends would gather and celebrate the wonderment of life. In the last weeks, she loved reading and watching The Rick Mercer Report, watching favorite films (Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, My Fair Lady, To Sir With Love) and homemade videos of her family around the world. Concerned about Canada, she bundled up in her wheelchair and was rolled down the hill to vote one final time in the 2011 federal election. Five days before she passed away, six year old Mija and three year old Sebastian crawled into bed with her. Mija read Grandma the Peace book. They conversed in French - one of the seven languages Clarissa spoke. Sebastian crawled over Grandma and would gently pat her hand. Two days before her passing, she would look into the yonder and in a child like voice say, "Hi Jesus, hi, Jesus, hi Jesus." Devout in her Roman Catholic faith, Clarissa honoured, respected and participated in other faith traditions. She was generous, open-hearted, and compassionate. She was a strong advocate for social justice and cultivating peace in children. Clarissa tirelessly volunteered her time and talents with people with developmental disabilities. Both Rosemarie and Fif follow in their Mum's footsteps. Clarie will be buried with her husband Tony in Lloydminster. Relatives and friends are invited to Prayers and Tributes at St. Pius X Catholic Church 2424 - 24th Avenue N.W. Calgary, Alberta on Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Pius X Catholic Church (2424 - 24th Avenue N.W.) on Friday, May 27, 2011 at 1:00 pm. Prayers Vigil and reception; Monday, May 30, 2011 at 10:00 am; St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Lloydminister, AB. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bea Fisher Centre, 3514 - 51st Ave. Lloydminster, AB T9V 1C8 or The Art of Peace Camps, 918 - 17th St. NW. Calgary, AB T2N 2E4 www.theartofpeacecamps.com