Elaine Theresa DeFREITAS

(October 11, 1937 – February 12th, 2024)

Elaine, only daughter of Joseph and Carmen Leça. Beloved wife for 56 years of the late Romeo De Freitas. Loving mother of Trevor (Janice Weagant), Michelle (David Cathcart), Dale (Fran Drago). Cherished Grandma/Mama of Luke (Kristen), Zach (Taylor), Drew, Sydney, and Jaime. Sister to Vernon (Yvonne). Treasured aunt, cousin, and friend to many across Canada, the US, Australia, the UK, Europe, Guyana, and Surinam. Predeceased by her parents, and her brothers John, Carl, and Anthony.

Elaine was only 15 years old when she caught Romeo's eye walking down a sidewalk in Georgetown, Guyana. The 18-year-old Romeo was understandably smitten by the stunning teenager. He had to jump through some hoops to gain permission to date her - but thankfully, he was persistent. They married in 1957 and immigrated - with their young family - to Canada, in 1975. While it was challenging initially, the couple worked together to establish roots in Canada by purchasing a home, then a cottage. Among many other gifts, Elaine will be lovingly remembered for enjoying the sunshine, riding her bicycle as a young woman in Georgetown, phone conversations with family and friends around the world, and her homemade (Guyanese) rum-soaked ‘Black’ cake at Christmas time! Elaine enjoyed cooking and sharing meals and stories with family and friends. Like Romeo, Elaine was incredibly proud of her children and grandchildren, who she prayed for daily. Her kind, social, and loving presence will be dearly missed.

Family and personal friends of Elaine and Romeo will be received at the Paul O’Connor Funeral Home at 1939 Lawrence East in Scarborough – on Thursday, February 22nd, 2024 - at 10am for Visitation, followed by a Funeral Service at 11am. The family welcomes and appreciates all messages of condolence and stories – to be submitted on Elaine’s memorial page on the Paul O’Connor Funeral Home (Dignity Memorial) website, at: Elaine Theresa DeFREITAS Obituary - Scarborough, ON (dignitymemorial.com).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Elaine to (Heart & Stroke) https://www.heartandstroke.ca/ or (Guyana Christian Charities), gcccanada.org