Rosalind Anne DaSilva

If you’re about to have a party and not dance and wuk up and wine up and eat fish cakes, pumpkin fritters, rotis, macaroni pie, curry chicken, cucumber and lime and baked custard and then wash it down with some Frutee or yellow Ju-c, then steupse! (bajan slang for mouth expressing more than words).
Consider: Rosalind Anne DaSilva who you probably knew as Anne, Rosalind, Rosalinda, Annie, Rosie, Rose.
Anne entered eternal life on Sunday December 8, 2024, after a long four-year battle with Lewy Body Dementia. Her light shone with such enthusiasm and brightness to meet and hug her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to frolic and play with all she loved who went before her.
During the last two weeks on this earth, she was devotedly visited every day by her three children who kept vigilance until her last breaths.
Born in Barbados to Olive (Dolly) and Albert (Bertie) Porter who have both passed, Anne’s spirit is carried on by her three children Kathryn aka Kath (and all the furries), Karen aka Kay (Darrin), and Michael aka Mikey (Elizabeth and two grandchildren Michael Jr and Meaghan and furries Lucky and Andes), one surviving sibling in Ontario Donald (Patricia and their daughter Gillian/Alex and their family), a sister Patricia (Robert and their kids Gayle/Spencer and Simon/Maria and families) who sadly passed away a few months before her, cousin Wendy Goddard and other cousins, an extended family of relations especially best friends Yvonne and Graham, and friends from every walk of life especially in Barbados and Canada.
Anne’s gentle and loving demeanor was bombarded with unstable family, from her own immediate family life to her married life. She was a rock star for trying to hold it all together. Inevitably and thankfully, all of this catapulted her into living an independent life on her own terms in Canada.
We were blessed to have learned so many valuable lessons from Anne during her 79 years. Among them: Love animals and let a dog and/or cat (or two or three) share your bed. Cook huge pots of rice and meat for your pets. Have a strong faith in the Bible and Jesus Christ and say your prayers and the rosary. Love others. Never say mean things about anyone…they are to be prayed for. Forgive. Hug everyone. Brush your children’s hair every night. Wash and iron their cotton diapers. Watch shows that make you laugh like The Golden Girls, The Jefferson’s and Three’s Company. Do the crossword every morning. Give to charity that asks. Dance at every event you go to. Sing your hearts out. Cook and bake your favorite meals for your kids, family and friends including da bestest cookies, black cake, lime bread and Swedish tea ring. Keep your heritage alive. Wear colorful clothing. Have sea baths. Wear soft shades of lipstick. Paint your finger and toenails. Grow flowers and plants and fuss over them. Cuss even a little. Laugh and pee your pants a little with great friends. Get your driver’s license even if you only actually drive once. Go to school much later in life and work your way up the leadership ladder. Preplan and prepay your funeral without telling anyone. Preplan your estate. Leave important documents in a briefcase under your bed. Repeat quotes like ‘honey kills more flies than vinegar’. Celebrate life. Live it fully. Be happy. Leave a great legacy of love and giving.
In her lifetime, Anne made connections and friends time after time. Those of us who have taken her lessons to heart will continue to ensure that life is an experience worth living and that we will learn from everything we live through.
She is now safely in the arms of Jesus.
She is missed so damn bad.
A fabulous party and merrymaking to honor Anne’s life will take place on Saturday March 1, 2025, at Westridge Community Hall, 505 Wolf Willow Road in Edmonton. From 5.30-6.30pm we will commune and commemorate her life with prayers, hymns, tributes and lots of hugs and love. We will have some Bajan food, music, dancing and camaraderie afterwards. All who knew our fabulous Mummy are invited.
Her ashes will be kept safe and returned to Barbados where she will be reunited and buried with her Mum, our Granny, in Westbury Cemetery in early July 2025. We will have another party and merrymaking at that time. Don’t worry, we will let everyone in Bim know when the date is secured.
Everyone who remembers Anne is asked to celebrate her life in their own way.
Instead of flowers, Anne would hope that you will do unexpected acts of kindness for others.
Anne loved bright colors so please wear bright clothing to any celebration of her life, especially blues and yellows that represent the Barbados flag.
If you can’t dance, maybe you could learn a few moves? Two step, Latin, caiso/shake yuh hips to name just a few. Anne would always be willing to teach anyone, even if she ended up always leading.
We love and miss you so much.
She is alive in all of us.
Anne always sent her kids this text every night before she got sick, and we now send it back to her:
‘Have a great sleep, God bless you daily, love you lots.’

Everyone is invited to share personal memories of our beautiful and amazing mother in the comments section below. We would be happy to respond if you would be so kind and leave us an email address.