Mathilda Rosemary Gracias passed peacefully on February 6, 2024, at Scarborough Centenary Hospital at the age of 86 years. Beloved wife of Denis for 60 years. Mother of Edwina (Phil), Denise, Francis (Candice), Tara (Dave), and Michael. Nana to Aaron (Hannah), Noah, David, Sarah, Leah, and Hayden. Predeceased by her parents, Benedict and Leonildes Rodrigues. Sister of the late Alphonso (Sunny), Amy, late Carmel, Michael, Anthony, Monica, Valley, and Marie. Sadly, missed by many nieces and nephews.
Mathilda was born in Karachi, Pakistan. She was a nurse and a midwife. After marriage, she and her husband emigrated with their first two children to Montreal but eventually called Toronto home. She gave up her career as a nurse to raise her five children, while adapting to life in Canada. She did much with very little and there was no sacrifice too great when it came to her family. Her grandchildren were very dear to her heart.
Mathilda was a woman with simple tastes. Her Catholic faith guided her, and she loved the church. An active parishioner of St. Joseph’s Parish, Highland Creek, she found much joy in serving as Sacristan, Eucharistic Minister and leading the morning Rosary before Mass. She assisted at Masses at seniors’ residences and brought Holy Communion to shut ins. Very talented and self-taught, Mathilda’s hands were always busy cooking, sewing, knitting, and crocheting. Her culinary skills were appreciated not only by her family, but also by friends. Her knitted nativity scenes, hats, gloves, and sweaters were well known. Any proceeds from her knitting were given to charity. An avid gardener, she cultivated a Marian Garden with beautiful flowers and abundance of vegetables and herbs. Mathilda volunteered at Centenary Hospital for over twenty years and knitted baby clothes and blankets for the hospital. She also volunteered several times to Lourdes, France, a favorite place of hers, to sew and mend priestly vestments.
As many know, Mathilda had been suffering in recent years from health issues but persevered in doing her duties. When it was finally determined that she had lung cancer, she continued to fight the battle right to the end, never complaining, but trusting and leaving all in the Hands of God.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday February 13, 2024, at 11:00 am at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Highland Creek, 200 Morrish Road, Scarborough. The Mass will be live-streamed and viewable on the Giffen-Mack Scarborough website.
Immediately following the Mass, Mathilda will be buried at the side of her parents at Mount Hope Cemetery, 305 Erskine Avenue, Toronto.
The family is respecting her request to have no eulogy, visitation or reception.
In lieu of flowers, please feel free to any donation to the less fortunate https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/id/43923. One suggestion is the St. Vincent De Paul at St. Joseph’s Parish - https://www.stjosephstoronto.org/our-parish/electronic-donations/.
The link to the livestream will be available half an hour prior to the service start, please refer to the service icon below to find the link.
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