Suwarupa Manamperi (Parishioner at St. Peter's Church,)

Entered March 3, 2021 from Mississauga

Our deepest sympathies goes out to Eureka and the Family.
I have sat behind Brinsley at the 8am Sunday service for over 25 years. I will miss seeing him in church when we are able to go back in person.
May Brinsley rest in peace.
God grant strength and courage to the family during this difficult time.

Suwarupa & Gamini Manamperi

Elizabeth O'Neil and Danny Linehan (Friend of the family)

Entered March 3, 2021 from MISSISSAUGA

"They lived and laughed and loved and left....the world will never be the same." (James Joyce) Our condolences go out to you and your family. Fondly...Elizabeth and Danny

Peter and Belinda Morrow (Friend)

Entered March 3, 2021 from Erin Mills

Very sorry to hear of Brinsley's passing. I will miss our chats.

Jennifer Bland (friend)

Entered March 3, 2021 from Mississauga

I was so sorry to hear that he had passed. His courage & grace in recovering from stroke was a study in determination.

Meeley Chan (Friend of Roxanne)

Entered March 4, 2021 from Toronto, Ontario

Roxanne, so sorry for the loss of your beloved dad. May loving memories bring you and your family peace, comfort and strength. Our deepest condolences, Meeley and George

Why my dad was Special

When I was a toddler my dad taught me how to ride, He would let me pedal while he sat on his bicycle saddle and kept balance so I could feel like I was riding a big bike. I would lean my tricycle up against the wall on two wheels.
He bought a second hand frame and assembled my first two wheeler.

He did not believe in spanking children
He taught me how to sit properly so that I wouldn't end up with back problems
He taught me some wrestling moves as a kid. I tried one of the submission holds on my cousin and it worked.

As a toddler, rather than rebuke me for trying to climb into the record player he taught me how to use it and how to handle records so I didn't get my fingerprints all over them.
He gave me rythm, standing on his feet while he danced
When there was a job to be done he would say "Don't sit about and think about it, just get about and do it"
When scolding my cousins he would always say "Whenever you lie you will be found out, whenever you steal you will be caught"

My dad had a reputation for being so honest that his coworkers would make fun of him but he refused to change his ways. I recall as a kid hearing of the time when there was a general strike in Guyana and everyone was looting but he refused to join in.

I witnessed one such occasion when he took me on a trip with him up the Pomeroon River in Guyana's interior. The ship delivered machinery and on the way back the ship's hold and deck was filled with produce for sale in the city. I saw many sailors helping themselves to some of this produce to cook, one of them actually told me no one would miss what they took because there was so much there. My dad would have none of it.

As a teenager my dad made it clear to me that his job was to go to work and provide for the family. My job was to go to school and learn.
He was always available to help with anything letting me know all I had to do was ask. This he extended to my kids. They knew they could always count on him to deliver lunch if they forgot it at home, or they could call him if they were home from school sick and felt like the only food they could handle was McDonalds or a sub.
Often when you thanked him he would say no thanks necessary, that's what I'm here for.

He was well liked and respected. Once during a school break he took my cousin, a neighbour and myself to sea with him. It was passenger ship. The destination was the town where he bas born and grew up, Bartica. The boys and I went exploring the town and it was night as we were getting back. The neighbour(he and my cousin were much older) said he had some money and we stopped at a little shop to buy a coke to share. We started drinking when he discovered he didn't have enough money. We were in trouble. I stepped up and told the shopkeeper that we would bring the money the next day and that he could trust us because my father was the Chief Engineer on the ship that goes between Bartica and Georgetown and the ship was docked at the wharf. He asked my Dad's name and I told him. Then he asked my name and when I told him he said, "Oh, you're the little one that dances" .
Immediately I began to feel relief. He then told me his name, which I never remembered and said that I have to tell my father that he himself has to come and deliver the money owing. Did I ever feel relief. I also felt special that my father's name got us out of trouble. I was probably 8 or 9 at the time.

I still love dancing.


Thanks Daddy, for your time with us