April 9, 1934 - April 8, 2024

Martha Maria D’Souza (nee Lobo) passed away peacefully on April 8, 2024, completing her 89th year.

Martha was the youngest of six children and the youngest daughter of Andre Victorino and Josephine Estafania.

Martha will be missed by her husband Mathew and her six children Mitzi (Lawrence), Merrill, Mark (Susan), Malcolm (Lisa), Majella (Brian), and Minelle (predeceased) (David).

Martha adored and was extremely proud of her creative and artistic eight grandchildren, Julian, Gabriel, Jacob, Joshua, Ava, Justin, Penelope, and Victor.

Born in Bombay (now Mumbai), Martha was a principal of a primary school before emigrating to Toronto in 1974. She quickly discovered cottage life and many weekends and summers were spent at the family cottage in Bolsover looking over Canal Lake which reminded Martha of her childhood summers in Goa. The fresh air and beautiful sunsets over the lake brought her much joy and happiness.

She loved listening to stories and always had CBC radio playing in the background whilst sewing and crafting all manner of household items. She reveled in finding creative ways to reuse and repurpose items. Martha also loved to garden and shared her tomato crop with neighbours. Her prized bounty of tomatoes was saved for her famous “tomato base” which Mathew turned into delicious Indian dishes. Martha loved writing letters and in early November she would be seen surrounded by boxes of Christmas cards, sending greetings to family and friends all over the world. She had a love for poetry and playing the piano. If you knew how to play the piano, she would insist you play for her.

Martha loved having the grandchildren spend summers at the cottage, but fretted over the frogs, toads, and snakes they would invariably bring indoors. But most of all, she loved making chapatis with jam and cheese for her grandchildren.

Martha’s kind and gentle spirit welcomed a myriad of friends and family over the years and her warm nature will forever live within us.

We would like to thank Park Avenue Retirement Home and the wonderful team at Chartwell Brant for their affectionate care.

A funeral service to celebrate Martha’s life will be held at Mangan Funeral Home, in Beaverton, Ontario on Thursday, April 11, 2024, at 12:30 pm followed by a reception.

In lieu of flowers, a listen to any one of Stuart McLean’s stories on Vinyl Café would make her smile!.