De SOUZA, Bridget Ida (née D’Souza) - Bridget Ida De Souza (née D’Souza), beloved and devoted wife and mother, died peacefully on Wednesday February 17, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario at the age of 83.
Bridget Ida is survived by her husband of 50 years, Dr. Aloysius Phillip De Souza, and daughter, Dr. Claire Michelle De Souza.
Bridget Ida was born on October 8, 1937 in Zanzibar, East Africa to Ruth (née De Souza) and Feliciano D’Souza. She was sister to Altina Lobo (née D’Souza) and Father Stanley D'Souza (recently deceased). She studied at St. Joseph’s Convent School in Zanzibar.
She enjoyed spending time with friends in Zanzibar and in Dar-es-Salam, Tanzania. She traveled to the United Kingdom where she trained and worked as a nurse and a midwife in London and in Oxford. She fondly recalled travelling by bicycle in Oxford to support mothers-to-be in the community. She rose to the ranks of nursing administration in London, England.
On September 12, 1970, she married fellow Zanzibari Dr. Aloysius De Souza whom she had known since childhood. He studied medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland and commenced his family practice in England. The couple moved to Canada in 1976 and soon after, established a successful medical practice in Scarborough from 1977 until 2014 where Bridget Ida provided support to countless families. She was proud to see her daughter embrace the medical field and continue the family commitment to serving the community.
Bridget Ida took great pride in her Goan ancestry from Parra, Goa and from Zanzibar, East Africa. Perhaps because she was born on an island, or due to wonderful memories spent sailing on a ship with her dad, a naval engineer, she loved to be close to the water, and especially enjoyed cruises with her family. She was an active and dedicated member of St. Joseph’s Parish, Highland Creek, Scarborough and found great comfort in her Catholic faith.
She will be remembered as caring and compassionate, and dedicated to helping others. She will be greatly missed.
A memorial service for Bridget Ida will be held on Friday, February 26th at Giffen-Mack Funeral Home, 4115 Lawrence Ave East, West Hill, Ontario M1E 2S2. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the in-person service will be by invitation only. It will be live-streamed. A memorial mass and celebration of life will be scheduled for a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to True North Aid in memory of Bridget Ida De Souza at https://truenorthaid.ca/donate/.
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