Dennis Emmanuel De Cambra
elevated QMTWU December 12, 1940 ~ May 7, 2025
elevated QMTWU Visitation
Friday, May 23, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
211 Langstaff Road East, Thornhill, ON, L3T 3Z6
elevated QMTWU Funeral Mass
Friday, May 23, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.
Chapel of St. Joseph – Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
elevated QMTWU Interment
Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
8361 Yonge Street, Thornhill, ON, L3T 2C7
elevated QMTWU It is with deep sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Dennis from Alzheimer’s disease. Beloved husband of Zarina (née Dupley) and Maureen (née Chan-A-Sue, deceased). Loving father to Maria (Stephen) and beloved stepfather to Khaled (Maita), Omita, and Ayesha (Halsey). Extremely proud grandfather to Aliyah and James. Fun-loving uncle to Chris (deceased), Paul (Darlene), Mark, Jeff (Debbie) and Carolyn (Andy). Uncle Bushy was also a much-loved uncle to his many Chan-A-Sue nephews and nieces, and special uncle to Donna Soares and Monika Schurmann.
Dennis was the ninth and last child born to parents Joseph De Cambra and Mary Albina Fernandes in New Amsterdam, Berbice, Guyana. He attended St. Stanislaus College in Georgetown, Guyana in the 1950s and was an active member of the Saints alumni society in Toronto for many years. Dennis and Maureen immigrated to Canada in 1970, sponsored by his brother, Hilary. From 1970 to the early 1980s he was employed at AM International, as a technician servicing and repairing offset printing presses. After AM International, Dennis worked in the City Clerks Department at Toronto City Hall, where “Big D” remained until his retirement at 65 in 2005.
Dennis was an active, athletic man, playing cricket and football (soccer) in his youth. However, we suspect his membership at GFC (Georgetown Football Club) was more about liming and less about sport! The 1980s saw Dennis playing racquetball and competing in tournaments. Racquetball eventually gave way to tennis, which Dennis played regularly into his 70s. Dennis and Maureen’s apartment was frequently filled with family and friends; music on the stereo, drinks flowing, and Maureen’s cook up rice and chow mein on the menu. Dennis and Zarina’s home was also a gathering place for friends, family, and international students; hanging out on the back porch in good weather, while Dennis tended to his beloved garden, and Christmas Eve dinners where all and sundry were welcomed to partake in turkey and curry. Their backyard was also host to the weddings or wedding celebrations of all four of their children.
The family wishes to thank Tammy Adams, her family and her staff at Silver Lights for caring for Dennis with love, respect and good humour, and creating an environment where our family could spend quality time and make happy memories. We also wish to thank Dr. Gordon, palliative care doctors Dr. Delaney and Dr. Abulhussein and the nurses at Centenary Hospital for caring for Dennis with dignity and respect in his final days. Dennis was a kind, warm, and fun-loving man who touched more lives than he realized.
He was an incredible husband, father, family man, and friend. Most of all, we will miss his bear hugs and sense of humour and will carry the memory of Dennis forever in our hearts.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada
