Rosalia Abreu

Our adored mother Rosalia Martins Alegria Abreu, age 83, was born in Alcantara, Lisbon to Manuel Antonio Alegria and Alexandrina Martins Alegria, a family of 11 siblings; 4 sisters and 6 brothers.

Our mother is so proud and adored her birthplace of Portugal, where she was born, raised, worked as a seamstress and gave life to her son Joaquim Manuel Alegria Da Costa Abreu. Her second favourite home was Lorenço Marques, Mozambique, Africa. Africa was the place that our mother felt most fulfilled, it is where she gave birth to me, Alexandrina Rosa Alegria Da Costa Abreu. Our mother was the wife of Sergeant Joaquim Da Costa Abreu. Whenever you ask her where she was at her happiest, her face would glow, her smile would brighten and her eyes would sparkle, as she reflected on her memories of her life in Africa. Our mother raised chickens, had her very own garden full of her favourite vegetables and fruits and lived among the African people who became her family and dearest of friends.

Our mother along with my father and I came to Canada in 1984, where while she struggled with the language, everyone who has ever had the blessing of being in her presence, simply fell in love with the person that she was. She was a devoted, loving, supportive and the most charismatic incredible woman and human being. She knew no bounds when it came to her children and her adored grandchildren, Sandra Christina Abreu, Michael Timothy Hunt-Abreu, Mark Abreu and Nathan Connor Manno and her great grand children, Vanessa Alessandra Abreu, Anthony Coregio Abreu and she was so looking forward to meeting Zachary Fragoso Abreu – her most favourite prized possessions.

Our mother was hard working and meticulous in everything that she did. Everything she touched would sparkle.

 She had an exceptional gift of making everyone feel so special.  She would instantly memorize your most favourite things and would make sure no matter what limitations that she came across, she would put her heart and soul into making that special something for you. She had an incredible faith in God, every morning and night, she would sit with her rosary and her favourite prayer and would never falter in adding in a special consideration for every one of her loved ones.  Our querida Maezinha and known to her grand children as Zena, it is now our turn to do the same for you…

Our mother leaves a legacy of unconditional love, adoration, relentless consideration and sacrifice. She is for all eternity going to be in a part of everything that we do and that we are, she is engraved in our hearts, our thoughts and our prayers.