Obituary of Maria Aplonia Mendonca

MENDONÇA, Maria Aplonia (nee de Bakker)

April 21, 1938 - Den Haag, Netherlands

June 25, 2022 - Calgary, Alberta

On the evening of Saturday, June 25, 2022, our sweet little moedertje and oma left us and made her way home to be reunited with her parents and our dad, “The only man I ever loved.” Our hearts will forever ache but the memories of her words and unconditional love will bring us strength.

Born in Den Haag, Holland, Mom survived WWII along with eight sisters and four brothers. Throughout our lives, she recounted her memories as a child living in a country in the midst of a world war and the constant fear of the sound of sirens and the threat of SS officers at their door. Despite the horrors of these experiences, she also shared stories of her everyday pranks that she and her siblings happily played on unsuspecting neighbours. She carried this moxie for finding the happy moments in every day of her life, reminding us not to sweat the small stuff.

She sailed to Canada from Holland in the Spring of 1955 at the age of seventeen. She found work in a factory and as a cleaning lady. She would proudly name the streets and families she cleaned for in Calgary’s Mount Royal community. She met our dad in English school in 1963 and together they raised four strong daughters. As a woman, she taught us that being a selfless mother and an independent woman were not mutually exclusive. She was small in stature but herculean in courage and spunk.

Mom spent her life giving her love, time, and care selflessly to her family. She loved nothing more than caring for her daughters and eight grandchildren. As parents, we were blessed with an oma who took care of every one of her grandchildren while we worked at any time, on any day. She cheered them on with all her might at soccer games, football games, basketball games, dance performances, and swim meets. She would not have it any other way. In return, her grandkids grew up to tow their little oma along with them to local pubs to watch her mighty Dutch (or Portugal) in World Cup and Euro Cup tournaments, go for drives and hot chocolate (extra whip, please), and realize her dream of finally riding on a motorcycle. And no one loved our bi-annual trips to The Rimrock for Christmas more than Oma. It was her absolute favourite family tradition.

Her strength and resilience of spirit shone in the last couple of years as she kept cancer at bay so that she could enjoy every last minute of love and care that we could give her. She laughed, she joked, she danced, she sang along, and she ate all her favourite foods.

Moedertje is survived by her four daughters, Maria, Luisa (Stuart), Catharina (Ivar), and Lucia (James); her eight grandchildren, David, Mary, Jonah, Madeleine, Benjamin, Matthew, Samuel, and Gabby; her sister Paula, brother Tony, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Catharina and Franciscus; our dad José Miguel, and her son-in-law David.

Relatives and friends are invited to Prayers and Tributes at McInnis & Holloway (Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB) on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Cathedral (219 – 18th Avenue S.W., Calgary, AB) on Thursday, June 30, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. Graveside Service to follow at Mountain View Cemetery. Reception to follow in the Hospitality Centre at McInnis & Holloway (Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB). Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Mrs. Mendonça’s service streamed live (see below) on the day of the service. For those who are unable to view live, a recording of the service will be posted. Condolences, memories, and photos can also be shared and viewed here.

In living memory of Maria Mendonça, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.

Click Here to View Maria Mendonca's Memorial Card

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