PAUL, Veeda Dolores Don - (December 28th, 1932 - June 4th, 2021)
Kieran McGrady once wrote in the Irish book of literature; a person’s success is measured not by their achievements but by the path they took to achieving their goals, and the legacy they leave behind.
33 - the number of years Mum spent at the Convent of Jesus and Mary (CJM) in Karachi as a primary school teacher. A young mother of 3 boys - yours truly and the other 2 - joined the teaching staff at CJM after having completed a professional teaching program in Karachi.
Determined to make a difference in the early years of the lives of children, her passion was to be involved in early child development to arm them with the confidence necessary to create and fulfill dreams. Years later some returned to the CJM with their children and chose Mum to fulfill their child’s early education needs - a round 2 of sorts.
Many of the then-kids, now adults with their own families, saw themselves as being fortunate to have Mum as their mentor in their early years, continued to maintain a close relationship with her, some quite literally until the very last few days of her life. The outpouring of support, appreciation, respect and honour for mum not only from students-turned-friends but also from others not associated to her professional life is a true testament of the legacy she has left behind – similar sentiments echoed in the many messages we have received.
Outside of her professional career, mum, like anyone else had to overcome life obstacles that were thrown at her. At an early age, with 3 children under the age of 10, Mum faced a serious medical issue which, together with our dad, and firm support of family, friends and medical professionals overcame the odds, and of course went on to have a fulfilling life.
23 – the number of years Mum lived in Canada – independently for the most part until the very end. Leaving behind in Karachi our late dad, John (1996) Mum took up permanent residency here (1999) to be with our 3 families. Reconnecting with friends and family from her ‘yester-years’ in Canada helped mum adjust to her new way of life; a life that would be spent primarily with her 5 grandchildren and later Great grandchild (2021). While she was retired from her professional career, the teacher instinct followed her everywhere, primarily with her grandchildren who she volunteered as her students.
Mum preferred an active and independent lifestyle! Once or twice every week she would visit the Bramalea City Center, and one of those days would invariably be a Tuesday. The Bay was her store of choice, and KFC’s Toonie-Tuesday was her choice for lunch, hence the Tuesday visit. While Friday evenings were reserved to watch WWE (wrestling) with her grandson and ‘grand-dog’ it was not the only day she watched the show – WWE was by far her favorite television program.
Leaving the self-driven independent condo-living lifestyle where sh ehad the flexibility of trotting off to the mall and to participate in organized trips to the casino on her whim for a full-time retirement / long term care residency was a choice she made, and was one that was driven by what she described as lack of social activity at her condo facility. Of course, the television package that would be installed here“must include wrestling” I recall her saying to my brother. At the long-Term care facility,she actively participated in most of the activities, her favorites were field-trips which often included trips to restaurants; Swiss Chalet and East Side Marios were her favourite.
4 – the number of years she spent at the Tall Pines care facility in Brampton and is from where she said her final goodbye. A goodbye that brought tears to many of the staff and residents who had come to know mum as the sweet, tender resident who brightened their days by bringing them treats and complimenting their fashion choices.Many of them wept beside mum on her final departure through the ‘honor guard’ which was set-up, and comprised staff and some permitted residents to see her leave the facility one last time.
Respecting the current situation and pandemic restrictions, a private funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday June 8th at 11:00 a.m.
Arrangements and livestreamed funeral mass details are entrusted with Ward funeral home.
Donations in Veeda's memory to Tall Pines Care Facility would be appreciated by the family.
{fastsocialshare