Farewell Antoinette, Rest Gently in The Arms Of Your Saviour Jesus Christ-By Lawrence Machado
Antoinette de Silva lived a life rich with kindness, generosity and love, sharing her blessings with her family, friends and colleagues wherever she went. Her beaming smile and quick laughter helped her make friends easily, and her motto of helping anyone she could through the grace of Jesus Christ, leaves us a rich legacy of her life.
You never left her home without Antoinette offering you a food parcel, a coffee or snack, regardless of her health issues.
Missed Her Daily Mass
If it was one thing she really missed during the past months, it was being unable to attend daily Mass at the nearby Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Wentworthville. I still look at her favourite pew at the front of the church to see if she is there. She was always holding a prayer book and quietly reciting her prayers and always stayed behind to chat to her many friends.
My wife, Roshan, and I knew Antoinette and Bertram quite well in Dubai, where we lived for many years. Antoinette worked for many years at the Dubai International Hotel, where she had a senior role in the head office.
She helped many Sri Lankans find jobs in the hotel industry and checked on their welfare, without asking anything in return. She was that type of person.
She and Bertram worked hard to make sure their four daughters, Sidoni, Sabrina, Selomi and Silverine had the best of education and career opportunities.
Antoinette with her loving daughters Sabrina, Selomi, Sidoni, Silverine and grandchild.
Involved In Lankan Events
Both Antoinette and Bertram were heavily involved in Sri Lankan club activities, dinner dances and other social events held by the large expat community and were a very popular couple.
Whenever we visited their home in Sharjah, there was always something going on as they had many friends and relations around. Bertram was the official photographer for the Lankan Lions, the premier Sri Lankan social and sports club in the UAE, and both were well known for their support to all Lankan activities.
We also caught up at the many international sporting events hosted by the UAE, including the Sharjah International Cricket Championships, Dubai Rugby Sevens and Dubai Open Tennis.
When we left the UAE to emigrate to Australia, the last thing we expected was to live in the same neighbourhood as Antoinette and Bertram. Yes, it was a very pleasant surprise when we found out that we both lived so close and went to the same church.
Rekindled Our Friendship
That rekindled our friendship and, in fact, made it stronger as we kept in touch, visited each other regularly and enjoyed each other’s company. We kept in touch via daily messages and had many chats reminiscing of our wonderful and crazy days in the UAE, remembering stories and mutual friends.
Antoinette was a great cook, and Roshan, her mother and I had many lovely meals with her, Bertram and any visiting friends from Dubai.
Antoinette enjoyed working in Sydney for many years until she decided to retire. Sadly, her retirement brought her some health issues and she was unable to get around as much as she wanted.
However, she had a great network of good friends from Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish and she accompanied them on their trips to other church festivals, and other events. They also picked her up and dropped her off at her home as she had stopped driving when she came to Australia.
Her Beloved Family
Our sincere condolences to your family who have lost a most precious person just as Heaven has gained a new Angel to watch over them.
As we say goodbye to you, dearest Antoinette, we remember your joyful smile and gentle nature, which touched everyone around you. As it says in 2 Timothy 4:7-8: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” And we have this promise from Our Lord: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” (Psalm 116:15).
May the Angels welcome you into Heaven where your Saviour Jesus Christ and Mother Mary await you, and you are reunited with your beloved family members and friends who have gone before you.
Till we meet again.
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Thanks.
eLanka team
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