My Dearest Loving Husband Raymond, an energetic, intelligent and joyful soul throughout his 75 years with us, left us for heaven on Saturday February 15th at 11:30 a.m. He left behind a legacy that I feel we must all try to follow, especially myself.

Born in Dar-es-salam, Tanzania to Joe and Anne Pereira, he grew up with his five older siblings Mina, George, Viv, Verona, Loli and four years later his baby brother Steve.

Raymond enjoyed his school days growing up, however, it sounded like he enjoyed his Scouts days even more! He liked order and routine yet he loved being spontaneous and seizing opportunities that would lead to fun times and togetherness. The order and routine he probably got from his dad and the spontaneity and seizing the moments from his mom. He often shared that many of the neighbourhood kids would sit at the Pereira table for a meal with the family. Their home was a revolving door and everyone wanted to hangout at their house.

Raymond was always keen to learn new things and build things and I’m sure he got that from the example set by his older sisters and big brother that at the age of 9, yes 9 he took apart an old car engine that was just sitting in the garage. By doing this he learned whatever one could possibly learn about car engines. When George came back from school in Kenya he found all his tools disturbed! He had put them in order. I always admired how when he took anything apart to fix it, he would first take a photo of the item, lay down a white cloth & one by one in consecutive order lay parts on this cloth. This way he could reverse putting it back together. I was one to always just tear something apart & never know how it should go back together. He taught me and many others a lot! He seemed to have a knack to fix many things.

When Raymond finished elementary school his sister Viv took him and Steve to Kenya to further their studies, Raymond was turned down and so went back to Dar to continue his studies there. Upon completion of his high school he went to Strathmore School in Kenya run by members of Opus Dei as well as non-members. He always said it was so much like being at home. The family atmosphere being so kind & warm with great attention paid to small details. He loved their spirituality because it was what he was already doing at home. Daily Mass, Rosary, Prayer, Angelus, Spiritul Reading, Gospel Reading, Frequent Confession and Community Outreach to name a few.

After completion of school in Strathmore, he decided he wanted to go into aeronautics and so applied to Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was extremely grateful to his sister Verona and brother-in-law Vincent for signing off papers on his behalf to be his guarantor if things didn’t work out at the school. Without fail Raymond completed his schooling in aircraft maintenance. His first job was in Toledo, Ohio fo a small aviation company.

This is where my life changed. Raymond and I met at a parish invitation to meet Mother Theresa of Calcutta, India. She was going to be giving a talk at a Masonic Hall in Toledo, Ohio. My entire family went & I being the youngest at the time sat at the end of this very long row of seats and there was only one empty seat to my right. Guess who filled that seat? Yes, Raymond. I got talking to him & he asked me what I did. One of the things I mentioned was that I helped my dad make rosaries for the poor in countries like Africa & India as well as prisons. He was planing to go to Tanzania in the near future so he asked me if I could make him some rosaries to take home to his family in Dar. So he gave me his address so I could send them to him. Mother Theresa actually shook Raymond's hand that day - the closest I got was about 4ft away from her!

We kept corresponding over the years, for the course of 4 years total. First for Christmas, then Easter... four years later by the grace of God we were married on July 25th, 1980. I must add that I was desperately looking for a husband and so I decided that I would attend Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. once a month which ended with mass and prayed for a good husband. God gave me more than what I was asking for. Raymond & his family taught me many good values!!!

Although Raymond worked at De Havilland/ now know as Bombardier for 30yrs he always made time to help anyone and everyone who crossed his path. He was in his element when he went on retreats to help fix odd jobs at the retreat centers he visited. By God’s grace our neighbours over the years have been so close to us because of Raymond’s helping hand and his generosity. He rubbed off on me so so much, I give him credit for it.

Raymond and I really wanted to have children but I had severe endometriosis & 4 surgeries but God had other plans. I always felt that there was a need to help large families who could use a get away. So, we did a lot of babysitting for large families. I felt there was a need for some couples not to have children so they could help others who did. With this act, Raymond and I have been blessed to be godparents to many of our family and friend’s children. We are so proud of them all.

Being married almost 45 years, Raymond and I faced many health challenges and endured much suffering that made us better humans and spouses to each other. We grew in love, faith and trust. These last 16 years I’ve had with Raymond have been a great gift from God as his kidneys were seizing and he was blessed with a kidney transplant. They said it was good for 10 years and Raymond strong willed as he was pushed it to 6 more years!

Today, I have a Holy Envy for Raymond. Imagine an eternity of Total Bliss with God!!! Raymond received the Sacramet of the Sick twice (you can received this Sacrament again if you become worse after the first time receiving it). He also received the "Apostolic Pardon" which you can only receive once. This Apostolic Pardon promises that we will go straight to Heaven when we die. Please look into this. Knowing this, it has given me great peace in my soul. Praying that we will all meet in this Heavenly Home of ours for all eternity & join up with Raymond & so many others of our family!!!