Dionilde Santos, 91, passed away on October 29, 2024 after a long battle.

Dionilde was born in Santo Alexio de Alem-Tamega, Portugal. She was the youngest of 12 brothers and sisters that have all since passed away. At a young age, she moved to Lisbon, Portugal where she met and married Antonio Santos. They eventually made the big decision to move to Canada in an effort to help build a better life for their children and eventually settled in Mississauga, Ontario.

Dionilde was active throughout her life and kept engaged through multiple interests from knitting to ceramics to dancing. Her true passion however was always her plants and garden. Continuing late into her life, she demonstrated an incredible ability to nurture and grow all manners of plants and vegetables. She took great pride in reaping and sharing the rewards of her vegetable patch with family and friends.

Always full of life, Dionilde always looked and acted years younger than her actual age. An incredible cook and host, she loved to entertain family and friends with a great array of dishes and her famous baked goods. Her grandchildren will always share loving memories of her playful spirit and jokes that she did in order to engage and make them laugh.

Together with Antonio, Dionilde went on to have two children: Maria Leonor and Fernando Antonio Santos. Dionilde was predeceased by Antonio but is survived by her children, grandchildren Sean Barber, Christopher Barber, Alexander Barber, Brigitte Barber, Andrew Santos and Jaime Santos, daughters-in-law Isabel Barber (Sean), Stephanie Barber (Christopher), & Emma Stevens (Alexander) and great-grandchildren Jacob, Nolan and Rose who will all miss the incredible void in their lives that she leaves behind.

Friends may call at the Turner & Porter 'Peel' Chapel, 2180 Hurontario St, Mississauga on Sunday November 3 from 2-5 pm. Funeral Service will be held in the chapel on Monday November 4th at 11 am. Dionilde’s final resting place will be at Assumption Catholic Mausoleum.