Obituary – Eddie (Epifanio) D. Martins

Eddie (Epifanio) D. Martins
(January 21, 1933 to December 25, 2020)

Eddie Martins, born January 21, 1933 passed away peacefully in Quesnel, British Columbia on December 25, 2020 at the age of 87.  Eddie was born in Bombay, India and immigrated to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in 1950 where he worked his way up to a Director position at Standard Charter Bank.  He married Ines Fernandes (daughter of FR. Fernandes who moved from Goa to Salisbury, Rhodesia – now Harare, Zimbabwe – in 1917) in 1963 and they had 3 children, Renato, Grace and Tony.   Eddie enjoyed sports and captained the Goan Institute Field Hockey Team.  He also played tennis, soccer, cricket and badminton. He sang in the Choir at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Dar es Salaam. Eddie and his family immigrated to Toronto in 1974 where he initially worked for Simpsons, and then spent 20 years working for the Toronto Transit Commission before retiring in 1998. Following retirement, Eddie spent 6 months in Goa, followed by a few months with each of his children in Ottawa (Ontario), Calgary (Alberta) and Bella Bella (British Columbia). He moved to Quesnel, B.C. in 2000 where his daughter was living.

Eddie passed away peacefully in the late hours of Christmas night, surrounded by his children with Joy to The World playing softly in the background. We are confident that he is smiling down from heaven.

Eddie is survived by Ines and their 3 children, Renato(Julia) in Ottawa, Grace(Mel) in Quesnel, and Tony(Renee) in Calgary. He was a proud grandfather to Jack, Erick, Kiernan and Julianna.

Eddie was brother to
(late) Regina (Bombay & later Toronto),
(late) Fr. Joseph (Sonny) SJ (Tanzania, Guyana, Spain, Bombay – St. Xavier’s School),
(late) Ben (Dar, Tanzania & Toronto),
Franky (Dar & Montreal),
Mildred (Tanzania & Bombay),
Philip (Dar & Toronto) and
(late) Angelo (Zambia, Calgary, St. Catharines, Ontario)

He is fondly remembered by many in-laws, nieces, nephews and their families all over Canada, the USA, Bombay, England, France, Australia, New Zealand and Zimbabwe.

A very small funeral mass (COVID restrictions) was held at St. Ann’s Catholic Church on December 30, 2020 followed by a beautiful graveside service officiated by Fr. Vencent Asomugha.

Donations in his name can be made to the Parkinson’s Society British Columbia, or Quesnel & District Palliative Care Association.

Messages for his family can be sent to
Ines – fern8090@yahoo.ca
Grace – gmartins23.gm@gmail.com

May Eddie’s Soul Rest in Eternal Peace!