Mrs. Alda Dos Santos Medeiros

Obituary

Alda Dos Santos Medeiros, born in Açores, Portugal, November 1, 1936, passed away January 1, 2025, at the age of 88 years old. She has now reunited with her loving husband, Jose Medeiros, who died September 1, 2011. She is survived by her 3 children, daughter in-law, 2 sons in-law, 7 grandchildren and their partners, and 7 great grandchildren.

Alda was a talented seamstress in her earlier years, cooked hot meals for coal minors upon arrival to Canada to help support her family. Her passion was gardening and flowers. She never met a flower she didn’t like, or want to keep in her garden. She provided childcare for many children and families for several years. Counselled countless friends/family/neighbours and strangers, who sought help, a listening ear and shoulder to cry on. She helped fill hungry bellies, heal pulled muscles, broken hearts, and help mend relationships. She fed many, clothed many, and helped many find jobs. No task was unachievable. She was the original facebook/internet. Networking was her gift. If she didn’t have it, or know it, she would ask, connect or commission it. She believed, where there is a will, there is a way. She illuminated the path of a lost soul and helped carry the burden of one’s grief and pain. She could stand her own on the farm digging, planting, harvesting and cultivating a variety of fruits and vegetables. She believed she could do anything and conquer any challenge. Fear was no opponent for her, laughter was medicinal and joy was not optional. Singing was the cure for anxiety and prayer was her comfort.

She was a force to be reckoned with, and no one dared to anyway. The woman woke with a hunger to do good in the world. A purpose to be the best human. No, day or time was squandered on sadness, and there was no time for depression. Her excitement for life and enthusiasm for all she could accomplish in a day, was her oxygen. Honesty, was non-negotiable, generosity a reflex and forgiveness an after thought. This person we call mother, grandmother, wife, friend, sister, and human was super human. She was an inspiration, a hero, an earth angel, a life force. An example of what every human should be like. There are not enough words to describe and highlight what a phenomenal person she was. She was magical.

Living was her passion!!

When she wasn’t in the garden, she was with kids, or joyfully cooking up a storm to feed her family and friends. She woke early and went to bed late. She didn’t want to miss a moment of living life. Sleep was something she chose to skip in order to squeeze the most into each day. Hope, faith, love and commitment were the cornerstones of daily life. She wrestled her grandkids, made them coffee that was more like a dessert, and revelled in scaring the little ones in a game of monsters. She was the monster, and the children ran screaming. Yet no matter how scared they were, they couldn’t get enough. Her door was always open and her heart a revolving door. Her laughter lit up a room, and lifted your spirits.

It was our greatest privilege to have shared a life with her, to know her was to love her and be changed forever by her. She is the epitome of a heart of gold and kindred soul; she loved all and hated none, truly. She was incredible. She looked fear in the eye and told it to move out of her way, because she had things to do and a lot of life to live. She was fierce, strong, loyal and committed to anything she did.

No, was not part of her vocabulary. She was kind, with no non-sense. her strength made you feel invincible. Helping people was her kryptonite. She scrimped, saved, recycled and built an abundant life that would take care of generations to come. They don’t make them like her any more. She felt deeply, but she made sure not to let sadness, anger, grief and hate linger for more than a few moments. Her compass never allowed her to stray too far from her core beliefs. This is a person who knew from a young age who she was, and what she was meant to do on earth. She knew her mission, her purpose, was to be UNSTOPPABLE, impenetrable to negative forces or energies. Her life’s purpose and achievement, was to help people always. She dedicated herself tirelessly and unselfishly to this commitment. When something was hard, she tried harder. Her faith and belief in miracles and the impossible was contagious. She not only believed people could change, but she was the change she wanted to see in the world.

She raised a strong line of women, her death is not an end or goodbye, but rather a transference of energy. She didn’t want people wearing black to her funeral, nor did she want them crying. She wanted to be remembered through the lessons she taught us. She wanted us to embody all that she was and continue her work. When we are tempted to get lost in our feelings of grief, we will remember, you asked us to always remember you and never forget you. So that’s what we will do. We will remember you, remember your food, your hugs, your laughter, your fierceness, your strength, your love, your light and your force of nature. Not only will we remember, but we live on through you and all that you embodied and poured into each and everyone of us. You made everyone feel special and listened to. You were the funniest person in the room, the loudest, a ray of hope, a beacon of light and the warmth of the sun. You are the essence of life, the meaning of life. You are life!!!!

So when missing you gets to be too big a hole, we will fill that hole, with all the things that made you the best person in this world. We will fill it with love, joy, kindness, forgiveness, generosity, honesty, laughter, food, flowers, people, hard work, perseverance, prayer, music and memories. We will speak of you often and continue your mission.

Til we meet again, our beautiful voice of wisdom, a well of strength, and a source of love and faith. We call her ALDA!!!

Love your adoring family forever.

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