Gloria Anna Monica Lobo

Mrs. Gloria Anna Monica Lobo (nee D’Souza), 74, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada entered into eternal rest on Monday, April 2, 2018. She was pre-deceased by her beloved husband, Rompar Lobo, her eldest son, Robert (Bobby), sister, Pamela and brother in law, Joseph Minezes. She is survived by her mother, Gladys D’Souza of Mangalore, India, her daughter-in-law, Cheryl (D’Silva) Lobo and her children, Dr. David (Phyllis) Lobo of Woodbridge, Connecticut, U.S.A., Maria (Kevin) Braun of Peosta, Iowa and Liza Lobo L.L.B. of Toronto. She also leaves nine grandchildren, Daniel, Andrew and Deborah (Robert/Cheryl Lobo), Vimal and Antonio (David /Phyllis Lobo) and Paula, Teresa, Jeremy and Timothy (Kevin/Maria Braun); her sister, Norma (and Avitus) D’sa and brothers, Trevor (and Winifred) D’Souza and Christopher (and Patricia) D’Souza and many nieces, nephews, cousins from the Lobo and Currie extended families and friends.

Gloria was born on December 10, 1943 in Mangalore, Karnataka, India to Joachim, an engineer and Gladys (Currie) D’Souza, a teacher, and was elder sister to Pamela (Joseph Minezes), Norma (Avitus D’Sa), Trevor (Winifred Brown) and Christopher (Patricia D’Souza). She grew up in Calcutta, West Bengal, where she did her schooling and senior Cambridge at Queen of the Missions school and went on to earn her B.A. (English Hons.) and B.Ed. at Loreto College. She worked for Machine Tools and Brooke Bond, Calcutta. She was also an accomplished pianist with an A.T.C.L. (Performers) from the Trinity College of Music (London). She then met and married Rompar C.J. Lobo, a civil engineer from Mangalore, India, youngest son of Dr. Augustine and Letitia (Colaco) Lobo. Four children followed while living in Calcutta, Bangalore and New Delhi.

Widowhood in 1977 was a crushing blow after which she moved to Bombay to be close to family. Life was not easy for the young widow of 33 with 4 young children ranging from 10 months to 9 years, looking for a new job and a new home. She taught elementary school and music at Maneckji Cooper Education trust School, Juhu, Bombay for 18 years. The mercy of God, her faith, love, optimism and determination as well as many answered prayers helped her weather innumerable storms and challenges. She always said that she got her strength from being on her knees. She shepherded her children in their Catholic upbringing at St. Peter’s church, Bandra, Bombay and their educational pursuits in engineering, medicine, finance and law respectively. Relocating to Toronto, Canada in 1997, her faith, love and life experience was an anchor and rock for her children, grandchildren, extended family and friends who knew and loved her well. It helped sustain her through the death of her son, Robert in 2013 and was a strong and powerful presence to those around her. She loved to laugh and had an infectious giggle. She loved music and singing beautiful old melodies and encouraged her children and grandchildren to sing and play musical instruments. She was a daily communicant at Mass, daily Bible reader and a regular at Eucharistic Adoration and enjoyed watching and learning from the Catholic EWTN channel. She was a facilitator at a number of church programs and was a director in the Rosary Apostolate and their outreach efforts in local Catholic schools. She made it a point to participate in pro-life marches and felt renewed by pilgrimages, including Fatima and Lourdes. As a prayer warrior, she prayed unceasingly for many petitions given to her by friends and family. Interestingly, it has been 40 years since her beloved husband passed away, recalling the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the desert before entering the Promised land. Her sudden death in India while celebrating the centenary of her Mother has left her family heart-broken. Especially deeply appreciated were the support of family and friends in helping her daughter, Liza facilitate her return home less than a week after her passing. Her children and family are immensely thankful to God for her beautiful life, well lived.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 12 at the Giffen Mack funeral home, 4115 Lawrence Ave East, West Hill, ON M1E2S2 (Ph: 416-281-6800) from 4-8 pm. Her funeral procession will leave on Saturday from the funeral home at 11 am for a mass of Christian (Roman Catholic) burial celebrated at 11.30 am at the Church of the Holy Redeemer, 796 Eyer Dr, Pickering, ON L1W 3C2. Ph: (905) 839-9774. Interment will follow at Christ the King Catholic cemetery, 7770 Steeles Ave E, Markham, ON L6B 1A8. Ph: (905) 471-0121. A short fellowship will follow at the church hall. Memorial contributions can be made to the Catholic missions in Canada at https://donation.cmic.info

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.giffenmackscarborough.com for the Lobo family.