Maria Meneses
Entered
January 20, 2020
There’s so much life packed in 95 years, it’s hard to find a place to start. This is my attempt.
My father was 18-years-old when his dad passed away, he loved him very much and talked about him often.
My father worked hard from a very young age. I will never forget the stories he would tell me about walking more than two-and-a-half hours, each way, with a basket of peaches on his head, from the little village where he lived, to another part of the island, hoping to make some money selling them to help out his mother.
He had many joys, one of which was singing and dancing with folkloric groups during the island’s annual carnaval, starting as early as the age of 13.
He was the father of four daughters and a son. My brother, his second born, sadly passed away at three-and-a-half-years-old. That’s a pain no parent should have to go through, my father had to go through it twice when many years later his third-born passed away.
He emigrated twice, once to Brasil, then later to Canada, where he lived for nearly 46 years. In his early years he was a bricklayer, a carpenter and house painter. In Brasil he owned a small grocery store and a bar, which he ran with my mother’s help. His last job was in a factory in Canada until the day he retired.
He spent many summers in Terceira, spending time with my sister and her family, and going to touradas, one of his favourite things to do.
He was a good storyteller, and had a very sharp mind until the very end. He loved going to Dufferin Mall to have coffee with his friends and reminisce about the old days.
He was married to my mother for 71 years. When she passed away in 2018 he became very sad, his mind was still sharp but his body and heart were broken. It was time to go, he was ready to go play cards with his Maria, something they did often in their later years.
He also loved writing poems, he wrote many. I will close my tribute with one of them.
Todos tem o seu destino
Nada se pode mudar
Temos todos um so caminho
Que vai dar num so lugar
Vai Seu Jose, descanse em paz.
Sua filha,
Maria ❤
