Amelia Fernandes Rodrigues Alves
Surrounded by her loving family, Amelia Alves of Edmonton passed away peacefully on February 28, 2025, at the age of 88 years.
She will be lovingly remembered by her children: Joseph (Kathryn), Teresa (Kelly), Antonio (Joana), Nuno Miguel (Vanesa), Daniel, and Carole (Ryan); eight grandchildren: Paulo, Matthew, Alex, Declan, Jack, Cecily, Julia, and Daphne; her sister Maria da Piedade and her brother Francisco (Adelina); numerous nieces, nephews, and dear friends in Portugal and Canada.
She was predeceased by her husband Antonio in 2004; two sisters, Silvina and Teresa; three brothers, Fr. Joaquim Fernandes, Manuel and Faustino; three sisters-in-law, Visitação, Otelinda, & Fernanda; and two brothers-in-law, Miguel and Antonio.
Amelia lived a long and accomplished life and was dearly loved by all who met and came to know her. Born in Portugal, the youngest of 8 children, she went on to become a teacher as well as a leader in the Catholic Youth Movement, representing her diocese at retreats, seminars, workshops across the country, and at youth conferences in France and Germany. Amelia considered these the richest years of her young adult life, as they lifted her up and allowed her to see the world in a different way. Through this involvement, she met Antonio, the national leader of the Catholic Youth Movement, and they married in 1965, before immigrating to Canada.
Here, Amelia continued her community and career's work. She helped organize the Portuguese community in Edmonton with Antonio and other recently arrived Portuguese families, volunteered her services as an interpreter for members of the community, and volunteered with her church and various committees and organizations. Recognizing the need to support new Portuguese immigrants as well as preserve the language amongst their children, Amelia taught English to the parents and Portuguese to their children. She was instrumental in establishing the Gil Vicente Portuguese School, and continued to teach English to new Canadians for 30 years, where she made a difference in the lives of countless students from all over the world.
Because of her life’s work with the Portuguese community in Edmonton, she received many awards, most recently in 2019, when she was recognized with the award of merit by Portugal’s Secretary of State for Portuguese communities abroad. As proud as she was of this recognition, the happiest moments of her life were the births of her six children and eight grandchildren, who gave her so much joy.
Woven through all of Amelia’s life was her deep love for family, her desire to make a difference in people’s lives, and her strong Catholic faith. But as serious as she was about all the things that were important to her, everyone who knew her would attest, Amelia loved to laugh, a sign of her joy of life. She will be dearly missed by her family and all whose lives she touched.
Prayers - Watch here live.
6:00PM Tuesday March 11, 2025
Trinity Funeral Chapel
10530 116 Street NW Edmonton, AB
Mass of Christian Burial - Watch here live
10:30AM Wednesday March 12, 2025
St. Matthew Catholic Church
13131 86 Street NW Edmonton, AB
Interment
Holy Cross Cemetery
Os meus sentimentos a toda Família enlutada. A dona Amélia descanse em Paz🌹🙏
My deepest condolences to the entire family. A lovely and caring lady who taught me so much when I attended Portuguese School. May you rest in peace D. Amélia and may eternal light shine upon you.
I am so saddened to hear of Amelia’s passing.
I met Amelia years ago, when she was running a Bible Study class at St. Matthew’s Church. It is through that class that I learned much more about the Bible, and the more I learned, the more I wanted to read the Bible and learn about our Christian faith. We were what we called a “Small Christian Community” and we all became friends and enjoyed learning about one another, as well as our faith. We celebrated together, prayed together and shared our lives together. We shared happy times as well as challenging times in our lives and we supported one another joyfully and without judgement. We have all become better Christians because of having had the opportunity to be together, and we remained friends even when she could no longer run it. We would talk on the often often and visit from time to time.
Thank you Amelia! You made our world a better place.
Rest in peace, my friend.
Um exemplo dignidade de mulher…descansa em paz comadre
Ester e Josue
Grandma,
We love you forever.
Thank you for your welcoming embrace when we first came to the country.
I still remember you getting gifts for my sisters on their birthday and always being fair and saying you’ll get your turn.
Moradi Family
My sincerest condolences. I will always treasure the memories of our families’ time together with love and affection.
Rest peacefully D. Amélia 🌹
Gena
My deepest condolences to the entire family. Descanse em Paz D. Amélia 🙏🌹
Sofia Fontoura
Os meus sentimentos para toda família
Descansa em paz Dª Amélia
Dear Theresa and members of Amelia’s family. We are sad to hear about Amelia’s passing, but we want you to know that her ESL teaching friends loved her, too. For us, she was the Captain of our Sacred Heart crew, and we all admired her inclusive ways and spirit. I remember her advising me one time when I was brooding about an unfair situation in my life, that if I would stand up for another person if I saw it happening to them, why shouldn’t I stand up for myself? Her suggestion made sense so I followed her advice: She was wise and feisty, and I am truly grateful to to have been her friend.
So sorry for your loss! I will treasure the great memories our families had together,
Dear Dan, I have just heard from my nephew Maurice the sad news of your mother’s passing RIP. I want to offer you my sincere condolence..Although I did not know your mom personally it is very apparent that she lived a true Christian life in the service of others ,and her presence on this earth was exemplary in the real sense of the word.I know that this is both a sad and difficult time for you and your family and may God bless all of you Sincerely Anne Marie Maguire
Saber do falecimento da D. Amélia foi uma notícia triste, guardarei com carinho as memórias felizes que partilhei com ela. A sua gentileza e alegria de viver serão lembradas. Envio os meus sentidos pêsames para toda a família .
Those of us who knew Amelia were fortunate indeed. Her passing is a loss. My condolences to the family.
A D. Amélia Alves foi uma senhora que ajudou muito a Comunidade Portuguesa de Edmonton.
Descanse em paz,
Never had the pleasure of meeting Mrs Alves. We are blessed to be friends with Nuno, and of course credit Mrs Alves with raising such wonderful humans.
🥰 May this family’s tears overflow with the joy of this woman’s life well lived and legacy passed on 😘😘
My deepest condolences to Nuno and the family… so very difficult losing a parent and one whose life touched and influenced so many – she sounds like such an amazing gift to have known. Thinking of you all…
Our family sends love to all of Amelia’s family. Every time one of Teresa’s friends had a baby, Amelia knit us a new blanket. These treasures welcomed our little babies into the world. What a beautiful life of service, teaching, laughing and kindness she lived and I see her living on in the Alves family and all their children. I came to know my friend Teresa better through the stories of her mama and all her remembrances.