Tribute

On Monday, October 18, 2021, Antonio Da Costa passed away in Oliver, B.C. at the age of 92 years. He will be forever remembered by his loving family: Maria Miller (Andre), Alexander, David (Krista), Madelyn and Khloe; Isabel Pascoa (Bill), Michael, Christopher (Tasha), Alicia, Jaxson and Cruz; Natasha, Christina (Adam), Luca and George; Antonio Da Costa (Carolyn), Melissa (Aaron), Matthew, Leagh and Rowan; Joseph Da Costa (Margaret), Michelle (Nick), Amanda (Trent), Viana and Vasco; Teresa Leal (Alvarino), Jennifer (Barry), Jessica (Kaleb), Lilian and Trey; Fatima Albano (Daniel).

He was predeceased by his wife, Gloria (nee Viera); daughter Amalia Simoes; infant daughter, Lourdes

Antonio was married to Gloria Vieira on February 10, 1951.He worked in the shipyard in Viana Do Castelo, Portugal, building Gil Eannes hospital ship as a shipwright (mechanic). Antonio came to Canada for the first time in 1952 with the hospital ship Gil Eannes for one month, once a year, for six long years. Newfoundland, St. Johns, Halifax, Greenland, Iceland, Norway are stops he made along his journey. In August of 1963, he immigrated to Canada working in New Brunswick and Montreal, Quebec for two years. Once in Quebec he saw a newspaper ad asking for workers to join them on the Canadian Pacific Railway in Northern Alberta to build the railroad to Pine Point N.W.T. He joined them as a machine operator.

In 1965 Antonio started working for Cominco mine in Pine Point N.W.T as a millwright. On November 7, 1966, Antonio’s family came from Portugal. On their way to Canada, the first stop was in New York City during the blackout. The family had a week stay in Montreal before traveling via train across Canada to Edmonton. For three days they shopped for cold weather clothing as it was -50F in Pine Point with 10 feet high snow drifts at three in the morning.  For four years the family lived in Pine Point. In 1969, Antonio and Gloria purchased five acres in Oliver, BC, moving the entire family to Oliver, BC in June 1970. Antonio went to work for Cominco Mine in Trail. A copper mine in Merritt. Brenda mine in Peachland, the Penticton saw mill North Woods, and Warehouser in Okanagan Falls where he retired after thirty years working as Millwright.  Antonio always said coming to Canada once a year in the Gil Eannes Hospital ship, “it was my dream to bring my whole family to Canada to live as it was a very safe country and beautiful” And that’s exactly what he did himself.  After retiring, Gloria and Antonio visited Portugal once a year for fifteen years which they both enjoyed very much.

A Funeral Mass will be held  at Christ the King Catholic Church with Fr. Thomas Kakkaniyil officiating. Interment will follow in the Oliver Municipal Cemetery. Condolences may be left for the family by visiting www.nunes-pottinger.com.