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A Tribute to Charles Chuck De Souza 1944 - 2017
A Tribute To Charles "Chuck" De Souza 1944-2017
by Jim Riga
It's been almost a week now since I lost one of my best friends,
Chuck, and it's extremely tough coping with the realization that I won't see him any more.
We had known each other for many, many years since we first met at Pius X in the early 70's.
Being in the same English department, and having seen each other quite often in miscellaneous activities, outside school hours, we quickly became buddies .... best friends ... brothers.
His memory is still so fresh, so alive in my mind.
They say that if you have 1 (one) "best friend" in your life, you're lucky.
I'm not talking about acquaintances or just friends. I'm talking about "best friends".
Well, I consider myself to be extremely fortunate in my life because I have had three;
two of them (Lenny & Chuck) have passed on, and it hurts! It hurts a lot .....
It always will.
So, if you are as privileged in life as I am, and you do have a "best friend", someone you can depend on through thick and thin, consider yourself to be one of the rare & lucky people.
Not everyone has!
Cherish that relationship for the wealth that it offers.
Days pass so quickly, that in the blink of an eye,
all those years and that relationship can come to an end.
Cherish your friend .... Talk to each other .... laugh together .....
because life is short and there is no turning back the hands of time.
Rest easy, Charles. A lot of people miss you, Bro.
-Jim Riga
Jim Riga and Charles De Souza
De SOUZA, Charles “Chuck” Peter - Born on November 4th, 1944, proud husband, father, father-in-law, brother, uncle, teacher/coach of 40 years died peacefully at home on Wednesday, June 14th, 2017 in Whitby at the age of 72 surrounded by his loving wife of 42 years, Alice and his children Jennifer and Jason (loving daughter-in-law Stacey).
He will be sadly missed by his brothers Diego (Annette) and Louis (Mandy), his sisters Carmen (late Mathias) and Agnes (late Wavell). He is reunited with his brothers Bonny (Astrid), Marshall (Bertha) and Archie, as well as his parents Manuel and Elizabeth.
He will also be survived and missed by his brother and sisters-in-law and his many nephews and nieces.
Special thanks to CCAC, Von & VHA Home HealthCare, especially Jennifer , PSW, Corrine, RN and Dr. Azi.
By Chuck’s humble wishes, there will be neither visitation nor funeral, and in lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation are appreciated (cpff.ca).
He will be sadly missed by his brothers Diego (Annette) and Louis (Mandy), his sisters Carmen (late Mathias) and Agnes (late Wavell). He is reunited with his brothers Bonny (Astrid), Marshall (Bertha) and Archie, as well as his parents Manuel and Elizabeth.
He will also be survived and missed by his brother and sisters-in-law and his many nephews and nieces.
Special thanks to CCAC, Von & VHA Home HealthCare, especially Jennifer , PSW, Corrine, RN and Dr. Azi.
By Chuck’s humble wishes, there will be neither visitation nor funeral, and in lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation are appreciated (cpff.ca).
Death and Loss
1 Comments
A beautiful, emotional, and fitting tribute to a great man, to a masterful teacher who gave his all to his students.. A rarity in these days & times.
