Vale Desiree, Heaven has a new star – By Lawrence Machado
Desiree ‘Deso’ Paiva nee Gomez, was a truly wonderful person whom I had the pleasure of knowing well for more than five decades.
Being in the same parish of St Lawrence’s Church, Wellawatte, we grew up together, and our families were closely involved in church activities. We were also related to each other.
Deso and I were in St Lawrence’s Youth Club together, and she always contributed to the many social activities we held. Her brother, Jeremy, was my classmate at St Peter’s College.
She was a very positive person. She remained true to that, even when she knew her end was nigh.
Her faith was tremendous, and in our lovely conversation shortly before her cancer finally claimed her, Deso said she had left everything in the hands of Her Saviour, Lord Jesus. She went through countless treatments and tests, without complaining, being buoyed by the love of her family and her faith.
Her memory was extraordinary as we went back in time and spoke of people and events in our youth. Her laughter and voice were very much the same even though she had lived in Canada for many years. We had both left the shores of Sri Lanka in the Eighties, and never met after that, though our families always kept in touch.
She told me she had been blessed through the years and wasn’t afraid of what came next. He words are still clear to me and she was always praising God in all her chats with everyone she was able to meet or speak to.
My sister, Belinda, was her classmate at St Lawrence’s and kept regularly in touch, having also had the great fortune of seeing her and her family in Vancouver several months ago.
Our sincere condolences to her grieving family, including her beloved husband, Edmund Paiva, children Devin, Devika, in-laws, grandchildren Maiya and Sofia, siblings Jeremy Gomez, Christine and Andrea, her extended family, and many friends around the world.
You will be dearly missed by all those who knew and loved you, Deso, even as we know you are safe in the arms of Jesus. Rest in peace, dear friend.
OBITUARY
DESIREE – PAIVA (nee GOMEZ). Forever in our Hearts and Thoughts. Beloved wife of Edmund Paiva (Vancouver – Canada) and much loved mother of Devin (and Rachael) and Devika and mother-in-law of Moses Silva, most loving and adored Nana of Maiya and Sofia (all of Canada), precious eldest daughter of late Nazarene Gomez and late Margaret Gomez and dearly beloved sister of Jeremy Gomez, Christine and Andrea (all of Sri Lanka), affectionate sister-in-law of Ruani Gomez, Arthur, late Linus Paiva and Nimmi, Pius Paiva and Jenny and Malcolm Paiva and Julia, loving aunt of Gavin Paiva, Lydia and John Paiva and Nikita Gomez. The funeral service will be held at 1.00 p.m. on Saturday the 17th of May 2025, at St. Joseph’s Parish, Langley (20676 Fraser Hwy, Langley, British Colombia), Canada.
Rest in Peace – DESO. (Obituary: The Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka)
