Obituary of FILOMENA MARIA DA CUNHA MACHADO REIS

It is with great sadness that we announce the recent passing of our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, niece, auntie, cousin, and friend on January 27, 2019.

Filomena is predeceased by her parents, Manuel Machado and Cecilia da Cunha Machado; her in-laws, Amadeu Reis and Luisa Correia Reis; one nephew; and her esteemed grandmother-in-law, Jorgina da Graça.

Filomena was born in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Açores, Portugal, on September 23, 1956. She immigrated to Winnipeg, Canada as a young woman, and shortly after married the love of her life, devoted husband Tony Reis, with whom she built a life full of love for family, hearty adventure, and plenty of hard work; while still mastering English as a second language, she began a fulfilling career in health care at Concordia Hospital, together with her mother-in-law Luisa, and after working as a cook to the late Monsignor Fernandes of the Immaculate Conception Parish, together with her mother Cecilia, she and Tony began a family with children Amadeu (Brindley), Michael (Cindy), Jeffrey, and Elizabeth (Adrian), before she retired from work outside the home to extend the foundation of family values and love inside their home to adopted children Leona, Haylee, Wallace, and Stacy. In later years, Tony and Filomena added to their loving family with grandchildren Bentley, Miguel, and Shane.

Filomena was a pillar of strength, determination and perseverance -- even in the final days of her fight with cancer, there was nothing that she did not master and leave better off than when she found it. Relentless in her work ethic, tireless in her attention to detail, meticulous in her cleanliness and organization, compassionate to those in need, her heart was always open to friends and family, including dozens of cousins in the extended Correia clan. Her love for family spilled over into a love for community – Filomena and Tony were long-time residents of the Portuguese Park in St. Laurent and made many dear friends over the years, socialized at events in all three Portuguese cultural organizations as well as the Immaculate Conception Church, and enjoyed respect and admiration in the community, particularly as her illness took its course. Her courage and resolute nature were a source of inspiration to all and will be missed by those who drew strength from her spirit and passion for life. Her acceptance of her illness was a source of strength for her loved ones – she would say: o que é para mim, irá de ser para mim (what is meant for me will be for me).

Prayers are on Friday, February 1, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial is on Saturday, February 2, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. – both will take place at Immaculate Conception Parish, 181 Austin Street N.  Interment will follow in the Green Acres Memorial Gardens, Highway #1 East at Navin Road.

Pallbearers are sons Amadeu, Michael, and Jeffrey Reis, cousin Eddy Correia, family friend Luis Ferreira, and uncle Pedro Correia. Honourary pallbearer is Adrian Katchur.

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