Eliza and Denis D’Souza-The Couple that Celebrated Sixty Years of Togetherness

Report by Eugene Moodubelle
Pictures by Anil Alva
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 22 May 2010: It is indeed a great joy for a couple to celebrate the landmarks in their married life following the grand wedding celebration. Thus, anniversaries such as tenth anniversary, silver jubilee, golden jubilee and even diamond jubilee and beyond are the occasions to be celebrated with children and family members. Though quite a number of couples celebrate silver jubilee of their wedding, few couples live long enough to observe the golden jubilee as both or either of them bid good bye to this world and their families. It may be considered as a rare occasion in a village and parish when couples are lucky enough to celebrate their diamond jubilee or 60 years of their wedding. One such couple that was fortunate to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of their wedding and sixty years of togetherness, that too in the presence of all their 12 children and their families on 1st May 2010 is Eliza and Denis D’Souza of Podikambala in Moodubelle Parish. This couple was married on 17th April 1950.

Denis was born on 9th May 1925 in Podikambala. After his high school education, Denis took up the job as a teacher in the Government School at Kodi for 6 years and later became the Headmaster of the Government School at Heroor for 30 years, collectively putting up 36 years in the teaching profession. While studying in the high school, Denis was the classmate of late Fr. Dhiranand Bhat (Fr. Charles Alva, brother of late Robert Alva).

Denis has been a very soft spoken man and is known for simplicity. The people in the vicinity still refer to him as ‘Jeni Master’. As he had to go far away to attend the schools and come back home, Denis had a cycle as the mode of transport. At the young age of 25 years, Denis married Eliza Martis (born on 10th February 1936) of Kattingeri on 17th April 1950.

With the passage of time, Denis and Eliza have been blessed with 12 children. With his meagre salary, Denis tried to educate all his 12 children. While Denis had to carry on his teaching profession in Government Schools, it was his wife, Eliza who had to look after the household work, and also supervise agricultural activities during the cultivation and harvesting seasons. In spite of their being busy in various works, both Denis and Eliza made it a point to have family prayer and Rosary every evening with children and brought them up in devotion and mutual love and affection.

Denis and Eliza have been respected and loved by the entire Ward, presently St. Paul II Ward. They have been always helpful to their neighbours. Their positive attitude towards life and the hard and disciplined life that they had lived enabled them to have peace of mind and good health.

Both Denis and Eliza are fortunate to having celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of their wedding on 1st May 2010 with thanksgiving Holy Mass in St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle along with all their 12 children and their families: Leo and Philomena, Benny and Lydia, Jessy, Hilda and Maurice, Pauline and Robert, Judy and Lawrence, Triza and Walter, Eugene and Alphonse, Henry and Jessy, Dulcine and Baptist, Fr. Raymond, Ivan and Anita and 22 grand children and two great grand children.

The thanksgiving Holy Mass was concelebrated by 12 priests, their son, Fr. Raymond D’Souza, who has been serving in the Diocese of Allahabad, UP for the last 11 years being the chief celebrant. After the thanksgiving Mass there was a reception in the Parish Hall attended by around 400 people.

As the statue of St. Lawrence is being been taken to various Wards of the Parish on the occasion of the Centenary Year, in this week St. Lawrence has been taking rounds through St. Paul II Ward to which the family of Denis and Eliza belong. On Thursday, 20th May 2010, the members of St. Paul II Ward celebrated the Ward Feast. On this occasion, Denis and Eliza were felicitated for having completed 60 years of their wedding. As Denis could not attend the programme due to failing health, Eliza was honoured by her son, Fr. Raymond by offering her jasmine garland on behalf of St. Paul II Ward.

Bellevision, while congratulating this unique couple, Denis and Eliza for having completed 60 years of their wedding wishes them good health and happiness for many more years to come.