Wonderful words spoken of Fatima have been posted on our SJCS Zanzibar website which I have copied to be shared by other friends and family members of dear Fatima who are not on the SJCS site.
Should others wish to post their messages, please do so on the SJCSZ site and those who are not members are welcome to post your messages to bennydesouza@btinternet.com which I will add to this blogspot. You can equally enter your comments on this blogspot below in the Comments section. Thanks.
We have all lost a very close friend who will always be remembered.
Regards
Benny De Souza
P.S. A slideshow of Fatima's photos will follow shortly. Anyone who has photographs of Fatima to SHARE, please forward which will be added to the collection. Les Gonsalves has taken the lead and kindly sent two pics which can be viewed below ... See Les comments attached followed by two photographs dancing with Fatima"
On behalf of all our SJCS Members & Friends
We convey our heartfelt condolences to Fatima's family members.
CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
We convey our heartfelt condolences to Fatima's family members.
CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
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Joanita Gonsalves writes …..Very very sad Sad News - my dear friend Fatima Vellani
Hello All:
It is with a very heavy heart that I passing this along.
She was my friend and I loved her dearly. I met Fatima at the 2005 Reunion - she was unassuming, charming, funny, honest, and fun to be with. We became friends and we talked often over the years.
During the 2009 Presidential campaign she got so involved that you'd have thought she was in the US and we talked a lot. I got to see her again at the 30th Tanzanite dance and she got to meet our other Canadian friends. She enjoyed the home cooked meal at John and Rolina's especially the sorpotel.
Fatima called me several months ago to tell me about her terminal illness but she wasn't ready to tell all of you; she told me she'd tell you herself when she was ready. I respected her privacy. She was very headstrong and refused any treatment - "for what ?"she asked me, "for a few more months at what cost?".
Lately, my calls and emails were not returned. She didn't want me to come visit her. She had promised me that she would let me know when things got bad - and now she's gone ... I can still hear her "Hello Jo" and always signing off with "I love you".
I haven't spoken to her son yet but I hope her end was painfree. May my lovely friend Fatima rest in peace. I will miss her dearly.
Jo
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Sad News - Fatima Vellani
Hello Jo:I have sad news....my Mum passed away peacefully in her sleep last night at approximately 11:30 pm.Although we are sad to have lost her we are immensely grateful that she did not suffer and got a graceful departure.She remained true to her fighting spirit in that she kept on going despite the odds. Ultimately she departed on her terms and in peace.Please pass the word to the common friends you shared with Fatima.Sincere regards,
Nosh
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My dear friend Fatima Vellani
I feel awful, sad that our bubbly Fatima has left us. May God grant her Eternal rest.
I am at a loss for words. Whenever, the word 'sorpotel' came up...my thoughts were of Fatima.
We all will miss her but am sure Fatima is in a better place. Please convey our condolences to the family.
How is her pet dog doing?
That was her baby.
Cels
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JOHN DE SILVA - CANADA writes ....
Very very sad Sad News - my dear friend Fatima Vellani
I am in a state of shock and .I just do not believe our dearly beloved Fatima is no longer with us.
I am lost for words I have been keeping in touch with her since we met at the SJCS reunion here in Toronto. She was so inspiring to both me and Rolina as we mourned our late beloved Alison. So sad.
John
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Very very sad Sad News - my dear friend Fatima Vellani
I am at a loss for words. It was a few years ago that I made contact with Fatima and that is when I mentioned to her that she should join the SJCS form .
The rest is history. She was a vibrant contributor. She will be missed by each and every one of us. I am sure that her soul does rest in peace....
Mabel
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BENNY writes ....
Very very sad Sad News - my dear friend Fatima Vellani
Just logging on to my laptop to be greeted with this very sad news has come as a great shock to Betty and myself and we are both lost for words as Fatima was a very dear friend and always in contact. I sent her a personal Christmas greetings card via mail and did not hear from her which was most unusual. Just before Christmas I sent her a couple of emails saying Hi and asking her why no messages from her on the website as she often posted updates on her family etc.
The two times we met in Toronto on seperate occasions was just one great laugh with all her jokes and exciting comments. She was always up front to give us advice and often told me off.
John I remember the great party we had at your home where Famima joined us as your guests including (Basil de Souza who did the driving and played guitar at your place). Those memories are still fresh in our mind. Also remember the time when JO and Co with Fatima all went out to lunch - again it was all fun.
(The luncheon treat was from Fatima).
Cannot fail to tell you, we were once all walking out from our hotel in Canada and Fatima had trouble with her feet so I offered her a piggy back but was turned down. I had spoken to Fatima a few more times during the year and not for a moment did we know she was fighting a health problem until now with JO's posting.
We all folks from Zanzibar have lost a superb friend who supported us all in every way. She was part and parcel of our community. I will not forget how she went up to Fr. Richard De Lord for blessings at the Sunday Mass held in Toronto at the SJCS Reunion. I have some wonderful photographs as sweet memories with Fr. Richard giving her special personal blessings which was very touching. Fr. Richard did the same to a few other Non Catholics who attended the Sunday mass.
We convey our condolences to all Fatima's family - "A great loss to all of us as we were her special friends".
Fatima was the wonderful lady who mixed with all nationalities and was part and parcel of us if I may say 'The Goans' - I have too many great memories and many connected to our first SJCS Zanzibar Reunion held in Toronto Canada 2005. JO and the Gonsalves clan will not forget the non-stop fun we had at JO's hotel pad every night wining and dining to the early hours with JO and Co providing all the drinks flowing like water and all the food to go with it.(The fun and laughter remains fresh but now with sadness).
Benny and Betty
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Very very sad Sad News - my dear friend Fatima Vellani Very very sad- I had wondered - I never really spoke to Fatima much - face to face and got to know her - spirit - soul- only through this Forum.
I had hoped to have a Mini Post reunion reunion with the Zan-Van- Fam. there .. but it was not to be-
God rest her soul - give her family and all her closest friends the comfort they need.
'Hazel
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TONY ANTAO WRITES
Re: Very very sad Sad News - my dear friend Fatima Vellani
Very sad to learn about Fatima Vellani.She contributed so much to this forum and was very proud of her education at St. Joseph Convent School. She was full of life and enjoyed every minute of it. I saw her at the Mass celebration in Church in Toronto and was impressed when she walked to get the blessings of the priest. After all, all religions worship one God.
So let us all pause and thank God for bringing her into our lives and all the good things in life.Our life in this world is so short and so forgive and forget bad thoughts and actions. Let us love and enjoy each other during this short stay where we have to take care of this good Earth.
Condolences to the family.
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SHAMEEM WRITES ....
I too was shocked to hear of Fatima's passing on, although I was one of the few others who knew about Fatima's terminal illness. Fatima confided in only a few people. She wanted to keep it very low and private, and therefore she didn't want to keep in touch with people.
The reason for it, was that she wanted to fight the battle on her own. I heard the announcement about her death in Jamatkhana last night and couldn't believe my ears. I cannot still believe that Fatima is no more - the vibrant, positive individual who lived her life to the fullest.
I have just finished speaking to Fatima's daughter-in-law Nina who mentioned that Fatima passed away peacefully with her family around her.
Fatima had been in a hospital for a short while and then transferred to a hospice where she could get the right attention. The family respected her wishes by not disclosing to her friends here whereabouts. I, too, had called her early in the New Year and left her a voice mail message but never heard back from her and for the last whole week she was on my mind. Nina mentioned that she hadn't been home since the end of last year. Fatima lived closed to me, but yet we did not see each other regularly, but we spoke on the phone.
She spent her time with her dog Baba first, and then Mishka. By the way, Mishka has already found a very good home.
Nina informed me that the family respected all of Fatima's wishes.
Her funeral will be held tomorrow, Thursday, March 3 at 12:00 noon at Burnaby Lake Jamatkhana followed by her burial at Forest Lawn Cemetry in Burnaby. I am hoping to attend the funeral. Nina has asked me to invite people to a lunch after the funeral at the Burnaby Pavilion.
This information applies to those who live in Vancouver and for those who happen to be in Vancouver, at the time.
There will be a closing ceremony tomorrow evening at the main Jamatkhan in Burnaby.
Tonight the family will congregate at the Main Jamatkhana for friends and relatives to offer their condolences.
If anybody wishes to get in touch with the family, Nina has shared the following information, which she OK'd for our website.
Nosh (Naushad) Vellani
7061 Angus Drive
Vancouver, BC
V56P 5J6
Tel. No: 604-420-3801 (Home)
Cell No: 604-763-3231
E-Mail Address is:
RE: [SJCSZanzibar] Re: Update on Fatima Vellani
Sad news may her soul RIP I hope God gives her family strength to cope with their loss
Fatma Jessa as we knew her had a younger sister Munira whom I played with. Often Lily and Fatma joined us and we danced to Bollywood music
They also had a younger female sibling cannot recall the name All in all we had some very happy times
Faiza the oldest was a hairdresser
My Dad and Mr Jessa were friends. I met Lily in Nairobi one year she looked her usual self slim and seemed happy.
My sisters bump into her occasionally
Chandri
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So very sorry to hear about Fatima. I got to meet this dear lady with a twinkle in her eyes at the Toronto Reunion. An engaging, warm and cheerful personality.
She shared her love and pride for you all and this LOVE WILL continue to WRAP AROUND YOU ALL" HER FAMILY ".
Please accept my condolences . May her soul rest in peace...
I will light a candle for her.
Kathy Rodrigues Veeren
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Fatima
So sorry to hear about Fatima. She was once in my class at St. Joseph's. What a lovely girl. We emailed each other about our lives in Zanzibar. She lost her mother when she was young and she also lost many of her sisters. I wrote to Nosh and he replied immediately.
May Her Soul rest in peace.
Zarin Avari
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May heart felt sympathies to the Velani family, may her soul rest in peace. Life is short and it was wonderful to experience her enjoying it with zest.
Bruno
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Shameem writes after attending Fatima's funeral.
I have just returned from Fatima's funeral. She looked so serene and as beautiful as she has been, though she had lost a lot of weight. A lot of people attended the funeral and the ceremony was beautiful.
Zarin, Ishu'swife, myself and Basheer Bhaloo also from Zanzibar were chosen by the family to be part of the last rites. We felt priviledged to be there as part of the family and I felt that I represented all her friends from St. Joseph's Convent School.
Fatima is at peace and has been united with her creator.
The funeral was followed by lunch and I had the opportunity of speaking with each of her sons and daughters-in-law. Nosh and Nina are so happy with all the good things everybody has written about Fatima and obviously they are learning more about their mother and her involvement with SJCS.
Nosh apologised in public to all the family and friends who didn't know about his mum's illness but he said she was a private person and wanted it that way.
This is the end of Fatima's life story.
Shameem
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RE: [SJCSZanzibar] Fatima Vellani
Hello Shameen:Thanks so much for writing this farewell tribute to our late Fatima and keeping
us informed. Her Soul RIP
Fondest regards,
John
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Thanks Shameem for all that you did and do for Fatima's family.
Above all, representing us the SJCZ's on Fatima's final journey to her resting
place. May her soul rest in peace.
Thanks also for keeping us updated.
We understand Fatima's wishes.
I'm sure she is out there smiling at us :)
Take care,
God Bless,
Cels
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Thank you, Shameem.
For those who want to see who this Fatima was ...
OLDER GRAND BABIES (last picture)
REUNION 2005 - Fatima
MILESTONES - Birthdays 70+
PETS
JO
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This is the end of Fatima's life story.
But her memory will live forever in all who knew her.
She has started a new life with her maker and will no doubt be smiling down at us.I was just thinking ............ we all should get into the habit of expressing our love for each other, every now and then. We take our friends for granted and quite often fail to let them know how much they mean to us, how they have made a difference in our lives, their smiles, laughter, their words of encouragement, comfort, sharing our joys and our sorrows. We should not wait till the person passes on, to pay tribute.Fatima was one such person, who made a difference to so many.Let us celebrate her life.
Mabel
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A LAST FAREWELL TO FATIMA VELLANI
My dearest Fatima,
In school I knew you Fatima as ,"The girl with the twinkling eyes", in Zanzibar days of yore, and I write to bid you farewell. Yes, you are indeed now resting in the bosom of God who gave us a beautiful soul in you, for All of us to know , cherish and admire. And yes, I know that you are seeing All the wonderful words that all our Zanzibari friends have written about you. So, my dearest girl, I'm not going to mourn our irreversible loss, rather I am going to celebrate you, my school friend at St. Joseph's Convent School, Zanzibar.
I must have been in Grade 12/Form 4, when you, one day came all excited and with a glow on your face in the playground at recess, to tell me that a certain handsome guy with gorgeous eyes, only equalled by yours, had taken an interest in you and that you had fallen head over heels in love with him. This, you told me in confidence, I suppose, because this guy, along with his buddies, was taking dancing lessons from my father who ran a dancing school in those days.
Who was this guy? Well your prince and soul mate whom you went on to marry, was non other than Babbu Vellani. I remember your girlish squeals as you came to talk to me everyday at recess .... you were a few years younger than me, but that did not matter ...you were in love ...... a beautiful teenager, a princess in Babbu's eyes.....he told me so....and he also told me that he would marry you one day. You made me your confidant as you were too overjoyed to keep this secret to yourself .... and you just had to share the news that Babbu loved his dancing classes and admired my Dad, his teacher .... and more importantly, that he loved you.
I finished school at the end of that year, and was hired to teach standard six because teacher Pereira was ill. It is here that I found my vocation in teaching, and at the end of that year left Zanzibar for further studies, in Nairobi, and became a teacher in Kenya. I lost touch with you after that but I was not surprised that Babbu and you had fulfilled your dreams of marrying each other. I was so happy for the both of you.
Then came 2005 .....The first Reunion of SJCSZ in Toronto. I met you at the Ball, after so many years. You had blossomed from princess to queen. And then you came to our Thanksgiving Mass, and I was so impressed to see you go up at Communion with arms folded over your heart, to receive a blessing from Father Richard who said the Mass. I was equally impressed to see Chandri. ... I knew her as Chandri in Zanzibar .... also going up for a blessing. Both of you received your education in a Catholic School, and both of you have been a fantastic credit to SJCSZ, and have endeared yourselves to All of us who went to the same school. God surely loves you both.
And then came 2008 ..... another Reunion of SJCSZ ...... this time in Goa. As I had been asked to organize the Thanksgiving Reunion Mass, the first two people I thought of were you and Chandri, to be active participants as lectors in the Prayers of the faithful along with others I had selected. I had checked into this and when I emailed you and asked you to do the honours, you sent me a most beautiful email telling me how proud you were to have been asked and that you would definitely be there to celebrate the Mass with all your love.Shortly after that email you phoned me to tell me of your medical check-up and suspected, diagnosis, and you asked me not to tell this to anyone. But you still wanted to come even at the last moment if you could find a travelling companion. It was not to be. I was so disappointed and sad at that time HOWEVER, I was so delighted to see your smiling face at a party in Toronto that year, I think, as I scanned the photos of that party in Ben's blog, I can tell you that both Ben and Betty were your best ambassadors and I'm sure they are still smarting at your sudden exit, my dearest girl with the twinkling eyes.So Fatima, this is my LAST FAREWELL to you. You are now with God and with your beloved Babbu. Would that we All could be like you ........ a wonderful friend; a loving wife; an ever-loving mother and grandmother ....... and in my book anyone who loves a dog as much as you did, has a heart of pure gold.
Fatima dearest, you were an exemplary Muslim who embraced all the best from the Christian, Hindu and worldwide faiths without reserve, and with much respect. This was a special gift from God. Bless you.
To your children, grandchildren, and family, I say, Be brave ..... Be strong .... Fatima was a special lady. Our hearts are with you.
I celebrate you, and will always remember the great gal that you were ..... my pal from my schooldays in Zanzibar.FAREWELL FATIMA. MAY YOU ENJOY THE HEAVENLY BANQUET UP THERE IN THE SKY. GOD BLESS YOU. REST IN PEACE.
Your friend ,
Yvette de Souza-Muise
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Added Message from Les Gonsalves with a couple of photographs added below.
Hello Benny:
You have expressed your memories of this wonderful person - Fatima - so very well. I just got to know the lady at the 2005 Reunion in Toronto, and indeed she was one that made you feel like you had know her your whole life through.
You wrote about wanting to help her with a piggy back ride when you walked to lunch and she complained about her sore feet. When I asked her to dance, she complained about her sore feet too, but I convinced that the pleasure of dancing would certainly alleviate the pains and she did take me up on my advice. Just wanted to share with you these pictures of me having the honor of dancing with this wonderful lady.
Sincerely,
Les.
Look into my Eyes, you will see, what you mean to me.!!! Search your heart, such your soul ....
Hi Les - Of course the ladies would not refuse dancing with a great specialist dancer like yourself so you were a winner. Great photographs and thanks for sharing. Hope folks will send some photos which I would like to add. JO has directed me to some of Fatima's photos on the SJCS site which I will copy and add a full slideshow. This will follow shortly during the week with any other updates received. Thanks again. Benny
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RE: [SJCSZanzibar] A LAST FAREWELL TO FATIMA VELLANI
Benny what a sweet farewell to Fatima God Bless U
Love Chandri-love to Betty too and the totos
(P.S. Thanks for your posting, the sweet farewell was from Yvette Muise - Nova Scotia)
Love Chandri-love to Betty too and the totos
(P.S. Thanks for your posting, the sweet farewell was from Yvette Muise - Nova Scotia)
I gave some lovely photographs of you, Betty, Fatima and others which I will soon add to be shared with Fatima's family. Regards Benny
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Fatima Vellani
Hello Friends!
I was young, only 17, when I left Zanzibar and didn't quite remember Fatima when I met up with her at the 2005 SJCS reunion in Toronto. As part of the Holiday Inn contingent, at the reunion, as many of us did, I too, got to know Fatima, and she sure was the bubbly, friendly person that you all spoke of her.
I was previlaged to have a dance or two with her, convincing her that dancing was theraputic for her sore legs, and the willing person that she was, she took me up on my medical advice.
In praying that Fatima rests in peace, and the wonderful memories that she has left us with, let me share a couple of pictures of dancing with this great person!
Les
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BID FAREWELL TO AUNTY FATIMA VELLANI
Fatima was my maternal Aunt with a strong personality. She was instrumental in our family settlement in North America , with her advice and ideas, made our transition very easy. Fatima had a strong bond with her pets and showed so much kindness towards them. I am going to miss her dearly. Nazneen Shiraz Nazerali = = = = = = = = |
