Obituary of Victoria De Costa

Victoria DeCosta is the youngest of eleven children born to Mathilda and Rafael Jacobis. They enjoyed a simple life at the Moruka Mission in Guyana until the loss of both parents. Victoria, as an orphan at thirteen lived at Santa Rosa Mission with an older sister and family. There she attended school with the Mercy Sisters. As a teenager, she grew stronger in her faith and truly enjoyed being with the nuns. When she left school, she went to work as a housekeeper for the resident priests and shared many stories about her work for both Father Payne and Fr. King.

Eventually, Victoria moved to Georgetown to continue working in a similar capacity for the Ursuline Sisters. There she developed her cooking skills and spiritual life, which her children will always fondly remember the many delicious meals and life of prayer.

During her time working at the Convent, she met a handsome carpenter and boat builder, named Albert DeCosta. They were married in 1946 started a family. During their twenty-seven years of marriage they had seven children, Joseph, Mary Ann, Christopher, Joan, Yvonne, Garciella and Eugenie. Their family life was punctuated with fun times along the Pomeroon, Corentyne and the Berbice Rivers, with the strong-willed and ever-faithful Victoria farming, cooking, and taking care of her family. Many a Sunday dinner was prepared with Victoria teaching Catechism and when unable to attend Mass, she insisted on the family reciting the Rosary. She did her best to be a good role model, wife and mother.

After, her husband’s sudden death in 1981, she moved to Canada to be with her youngest daughter Eugenie who had just started her family. Her seven grandchildren, Richard, Jeremy, Mitchell, Elizabeth, Catherine, Persia and Christiaan brought her much joy. It was apparent that Victoria was happiest taking care of family and they remain grateful for all that she did throughout their lives.

As Victoria aged, she became bed-ridden for the past nine years and was lovingly cared for by Eugenie and her children. She was most comfortable in this home environment as part of the family, and enjoying her favorite Guyanese dishes and music. Even though having a stroke deprived her of her speech, she managed to express herself and was still able to share her sense of humor with her family. Victoria will be greatly missed by her children and grandchildren.

We invite you to share in your favourite memorites, photos and sentiments of her life here at her Memorial Webpage. 

Uniquely entrusted to eco Cremation & Burial Services Inc. 

Life Celebrations. Done Differently.