We Remember

FONTOURA, Arlindo

—

Born December 8, 1926 in Sonim, Portugal and passed away peacefully on June 5, 2015 at the Kelowna General Hospital.  Survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Matilde and their five children: Isabel (Juve) Furtado, Teresa (Jim) Hill, Arlinda Fontoura (Keith Stappleton), Joe (Sandy) and Rose (Don) Campbell; nine grandchildren: Damien, Joel, Tyler, Kaelyn (Galen), Kyle, Filipe, Scott, Sarah, Nicole and one brother Albino Fontoura.  Predeceased by two brothers and three sisters.

Arlindo was a policeman in his native Portugal and married his childhood sweetheart Matilde Teixeira in 1950.  He immigrated to Canada on August 27 1957, at the age of 31 years.  He held a variety of jobs over the years, and was eventually able to send for his wife and 3 young daughters, and they settled in Winnipeg. The family moved to Churchill in 1962 where Arlindo was employed with PanAmerican Airlines and Public Works and where the 2 youngest children were born. In 1969 when the US bases closed in Fort Churchill, the family moved back to Winnipeg. In 1992, Arlindo retired from the Agriculture Research Station at the University of Manitoba where he had worked for many years maintaining the greenhouses and research facilities. Of all the jobs he held in Canada, this was the one he enjoyed most. He had grown up on a farm and learned a lot about agriculture and ranching from his father. He loved the outdoors and his adopted country of Canada.

In 1992 he realized his dream of retiring to Kelowna where the temperate climate allowed he and Matilde to have a large garden and fruit trees and to spend time outdoors year round. Arlindo shared his expertise of experimental tree grafting, his favourite hobby, with friends and fruit farmers in the Valley and his unique techniques were appreciated and adopted by many. Their big yard kept them busy, and their home became a gathering place for many happy family reunions as their children and grandchildren visited often.

Arlindo was a person of absolute honesty and integrity and above all he was a devoted family man, his children and grandchildren meant everything in the world to him, he was proud of them and enjoyed rewarding their achievements. The special birthday cards Arlindo wrote to all his children and grandchildren will be sadly missed. Nothing made him happier than having the entire family together in his Kelowna home. The younger grandchildren were baptized in Kelowna and many other special family occasions were celebrated here including Arlindo and Matilde’s 50th wedding anniversary in 2000. One of the grandchildren’s favourite memories of their Avo was his storytelling, usually hilarious incidents from his youth that had them laughing throughout the telling. After they moved to Kelowna, Arlindo and Matilde made two trips together back to Portugal to visit family and friends before his health limited his travelling. He always maintained regular contact with his wonderful extended family and friends in Portugal, as well as friends in Winnipeg, Toronto, Edmonton and Kelowna.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Kelowna General Hospital 6 West for their excellent care of Arlindo during his hospital stay, especially in his final days. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, June 15th at 10:30 am at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, 750 Rutland Road, Kelowna, BC.  Interment to follow in St. Theresa’s Catholic Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Red Cross www.redcross.ca.

Service
Monday, June 15th at 10:30 am

Location
St. Theresa’s Catholic Church

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Canadian Red Cross Link: www.redcross.ca

 


Service Information

Service Details


The service for FONTOURA, Arlindo is scheduled for Monday, June 15th at 10:30 am . Below you will find the map for the service location and the contact information should you have any questions.

Address & Contact for Service Location:

St. Theresa’s Catholic Church

750 Rutland Road Kelowna, BC

Phone:

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Condolences

  • Bernardo & Ruth Hall says:
    June 10, 2015 at 10:54 am

    We haven’t had much time to know Arlindo & Matilde but we have enjoyed having them as our next door neighbors for over one year. What neighbors! Ruth enjoys her garden as much as they do! We are going to miss our good friend Arlindo. I will never forget his extended arm to welcome us to this neighborhood and I was so thrilled to discover that they are Portuguese people. I lived many years in Brazil and it was almost like being back there to have Arlindo as a neighour. Our sincere condolences and best wishes to this very united family.Abraços

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