Maria Eugenia Henriques
elevated R88zP Maria Eugenia (Vovo) Henriques, in her 90th year, passed away peacefully on April 6, 2021 in Mississauga.
elevated R88zP Eugenia was born on December 18, 1931, to Matilde and Antonio deFreitas, in the village of Camara de Lobos, Madeira, Portugal. She met her husband, the late Manuel Ricardo Henriques, and was married in Sao Martinho on September 2, 1954. Their first daughter, Maria Salome, was born in Madeira prior to their move to Toronto Canada in March 1956, where their second daughter, Eugenia (Gina) Maria was born.
elevated R88zP Eugenia worked for 25 years in the garment industry in Toronto, where she was a master seamstress and assembled many haut couture fashions for top clothing retailers in Canada. At home, her vintage Singer sewing machine only operated at full speed. There wasn’t a bolt of cloth that she could not fashion into matching outfits for her daughters, and subsequently her grandchildren. The culmination of her sewing talents was evident in the exquisite, hand-crafted wedding dresses she created for her daughters. Eugenia was also a consummate gardener and was proud to bring some of the colorful flora of her native Madeira to her adopted home in Toronto.
elevated R88zP Eugenia will be dearly missed by her children, Maria Salome Stewart (and husband Donald) and Eugenia (Gina) Bekkers (and husband David), her four grandchildren, Meghan (Ren) Reyes, Douglass (Melissa) Stewart, Justin (Brianne) Bekkers and Mark (Kristie) Bekkers, who each have fond memories of summer weekends at the Lake Simcoe cottage and winter trips to Port Richie Florida. She will also be missed by very special friends Eugenio and Fernanda Rodrigues and Beatriz Moniz. We all look forward to sharing our memories of Vovo with her six great grandchildren, Julian, Nathan, Nora, Connor, Clara and Emma.
elevated R88zP The family is immensely grateful to Dr. Chris Gilchrist, Nurse Practitioner Anna and the PSW of Care Partners who took gentle care of Eugenia over the last months of her life.
elevated R88zP Eugenia will be laid to rest with her husband at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery with a private, invitation only, service. In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful to honor Eugenia’s life with a donation to the Dorothy Ley Hospice (www.dlhospice.org)or to Save the Children Canada (www.savethechildren.ça).
elevated R88zP In light of the current COVID 19 Pandemic, the family will be having a private Funeral Mass on Wednesday April 14, 2021 at 10:30am. To watch the Mass live, please click the link below.
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I will always remember Sr. Eugenia’s beautiful smile and glowing smooth skin. She was a good friend, to my mother and always treated my sister and I like family. Sr Eugenia was a wonderful, loving woman and will be deeply missed. My sincere condolences to the family.
Thank you. We both had wonderful moms!
Vovo was exceptionally sweet and always kind to everyone. It’s an honour to be part of her family. She’ll be greatly missed and never forgotten! Xo
Thank you . She truly loved having you as part of the family
Dona Eugenia will hold dearly in our hearts as she was a very dear friend to us. She was one of the first persons we met when we arrived in Canada and we shared 46 years of wonderful friendship. She always treated us like we were her family (we can honestly say like a mother to us). You have our deepest condolences on the loss of your mother.
Thank you. We all thought of you as part our “adopted “ family.
I admire the way Dona Eugenia lived her life, always with a happy expression. She was so proud of her family and when you visited her she always shared the many beautiful pictures of her family. I will never forget the beautiful white crocheted blanket she made for my grandson for his baptism. I’m very sorry for your loss.
Thank you. She very much appreciated your visits and phone calls. ( even when you were in Mexico)
Dona Eugenia will hold dearly in our hearts as she was a very dear friend to us . She was one of the first persons we met when we arrived in Canada and we shared 46 years of wonderful friendship . She always treated us like we were family ( we can honestly say like a mother to us ) . You have our deepest condolences on the loss of your mother !
I have fond memories of the good times spent at Sr. Eugenia’s home and specially the cottage. She (and Sr. Manuel) were very hospitable and consummate hosts. Sr. Eugenia welcomed friends and guests with a friendly smile and enjoyed engaging in conversation with them.
“Death leaves a heartache, no one can heal,
Love leaves a memory, no one can steal!”
Thank you. Yes I was fortunate to have parents who welcomed so many into their family.
Thank you. Yes I agree , we share great memories.
Sentido pésame y mucha fortaleza por a pérdida de tua mae de parte da tía Bibita y prima Dongaliz. Favor envíame tu email para a minha mae comunicarse con voces
My husband Gary and I will always remember Eugenia fondly. She always had a smile on her face when ever we saw her. She always made a point of asking how you where. She loved to socialize and so enjoyed her weekly coffee time with other residents in the condo. When she was able, Eugenia loved her daily swim and her walks.
Eugenia, we will miss you. ❤️. Our deepest condolences to all the family.
Thank you. Yes she loved the coffee club and often mentioned the wonderful laughter she shared with the group.
On behalf of our entire family, we want to extend our thoughts and prayers to you and yours. A beautiful soul has gone but will forever be in our hearts. Senhora Augenia was always so kind and loving to us and welcomed her home and heart to us. We have so many wonderful memories with her that we will cherish. She opened up her cottage to our family over the years where we shared good times and laughs. Her presence during our travels to Domenic Republic and Mexico were a lot of fun and she had this spark and vest for life. She enjoyed her tequila shots and it was such a blast. Senhora Augenia was a second cousin but mostly a great friend and confidant to my parents.. Senhora Augenia will be terribly missed. Rest In Peace.
Thank you. Yes she did enjoy the time she spent with you and the entire family. Her life was full of wonderful friends and family. She will be missed.
Just want to give you my condolences for you and your family your mother your father was like my dad and my mom over 50 years today when I went to the cemetery and I saw the beautiful white flowers on her grave. Today I want to the cemetery for my niece Mimi who also was buried today. I just wanted to tell you my condolences again to you and your family . This is Laura debrito ( as Lorinda
Just want to give you my condolences to you and your family your mom and dad why is my like my mother and father for over 50 years today I went to the cemetery and I saw those beautiful white flowers on her On Her grave I went to the cemetery today to bury my niece Mimi she was buried today. I just want to give you my condolences once again to you and your whole family.
Thank you for your condolences. My mom had been sick for a while.
While we were there we saw that Mimi was going to be interned. My condolences to you .
We are saddened to hear of the passing of your mother and grandmother. Sr Eugenia was much more than a neighbour to our family. She provided guidance and support during casual conversations and in times of need. We didn’t feel alone with her down the street, reminiscing about our beautiful island of Madeira and adjusting to our new home in Toronto. We have very fond memories of our times spent with her and her husband. Wishing you all peace and strength with each passing day. With love and sympathy, Joao, Ana, Stefanie and Ryan De Jesus