Amelia Fernandes Rodrigues Alves

Surrounded by her loving family, Amelia Alves of Edmonton passed away peacefully on February 28, 2025, at the age of 88 years.

She will be lovingly remembered by her children: Joseph (Kathryn), Teresa (Kelly), Antonio (Joana), Nuno Miguel (Vanesa), Daniel, and Carole (Ryan); eight grandchildren: Paulo, Matthew, Alex, Declan, Jack, Cecily, Julia, and Daphne; her sister Maria da Piedade and her brother Francisco (Adelina); numerous nieces, nephews, and dear friends in Portugal and Canada.

She was predeceased by her husband Antonio in 2004; two sisters, Silvina and Teresa; three brothers, Fr. Joaquim Fernandes, Manuel and Faustino; three sisters-in-law, Visitação, Otelinda, & Fernanda; and two brothers-in-law, Miguel and Antonio.

Amelia lived a long and accomplished life and was dearly loved by all who met and came to know her. Born in Portugal, the youngest of 8 children, she went on to become a teacher as well as a leader in the Catholic Youth Movement, representing her diocese at retreats, seminars, workshops across the country, and at youth conferences in France and Germany. Amelia considered these the richest years of her young adult life, as they lifted her up and allowed her to see the world in a different way. Through this involvement, she met Antonio, the national leader of the Catholic Youth Movement, and they married in 1965, before immigrating to Canada.

Here, Amelia continued her community and career's work. She helped organize the Portuguese community in Edmonton with Antonio and other recently arrived Portuguese families, volunteered her services as an interpreter for members of the community, and volunteered with her church and various committees and organizations. Recognizing the need to support new Portuguese immigrants as well as preserve the language amongst their children, Amelia taught English to the parents and Portuguese to their children. She was instrumental in establishing the Gil Vicente Portuguese School, and continued to teach English to new Canadians for 30 years, where she made a difference in the lives of countless students from all over the world.

Because of her life’s work with the Portuguese community in Edmonton, she received many awards, most recently in 2019, when she was recognized with the award of merit by Portugal’s Secretary of State for Portuguese communities abroad. As proud as she was of this recognition, the happiest moments of her life were the births of her six children and eight grandchildren, who gave her so much joy.

Woven through all of Amelia’s life was her deep love for family, her desire to make a difference in people’s lives, and her strong Catholic faith. But as serious as she was about all the things that were important to her, everyone who knew her would attest, Amelia loved to laugh, a sign of her joy of life. She will be dearly missed by her family and all whose lives she touched.

Prayers
6:00PM Tuesday March 11, 2025
Trinity Funeral Chapel
10530 116 Street NW Edmonton, AB

Mass of Christian Burial
10:30AM Wednesday March 12, 2025
St. Matthew Catholic Church
13131 86 Street NW Edmonton, AB

Interment
Holy Cross Cemetery