Melba Cardozo

Click Here to View Service


Melba Cardozo (1928 - 2022)

With sadness, the family of Melba Cardozo announces her passing on April 5, 2022, at the Chartwell Gibson Retirement Residence in North York, at the age of 93.

Melba was born in 1928 in Karachi, in what was then British India; today is Pakistan. Members of Karachi’s then-vibrant Goan Catholic community, her parents Jack and Flavia raised a family of eleven children in the fondly-named family home, ‘The Homestead’. As members of a large family, each Pinto sibling realized the value of developing unique skills, and in Melba’s case, it was the piano. It could be said that her piano playing was at the heart of her personality – she was often a quiet person, but sitting at a piano, playing familiar songs for others to sing to, brought out her exuberant and joyful attributes.

In 1951, Melba married Leonard (Len) Cardozo, whose family had recently moved to Karachi from New Delhi and Simla. Their life together, until Len’s untimely death in 1996, was filled with raising a family, lots of hard work, and a vibrant community life with extended family and friends. Good food, laughter, and of course singing around the piano, were central to the get-togethers they hosted and attended. Their four children, Robin, Andrew, Barbara Ann and Rebecca, flourished under the (sometimes unwelcome) lectures, regular advice on everything from clothing to careers, as well as Melba’s lovingly-cooked meals.

In the 1960’s and early 1970’s, Len’s job allowed them to travel the world, and to live very comfortably in different parts of Pakistan. Melba easily adopted the life of the ‘memsahib’, hosting official functions, supervising the domestic staff, and supporting Len’s growth in the corporate world.

But they could see the writing on the wall with regards to the family’s future in Pakistan. In 1974, the family emigrated to Canada. It was a new life in many ways; Len was forced to step down several notches in his profession, and Melba went back to work, as an administrative assistant, for the first time in 25 years. She had to learn to cook and to keep house. That she jumped at these opportunities with enthusiasm was a tribute to her inner strength. One of the family’s first purchases in Canada was a piano.

Life picked up new themes, as the children grew up and ventured into lives of their own. Canada offered opportunities and challenges, and both Len and Melba were always proud Canadians. Len became engaged in politics, and Melba’s piano playing extended to church duties in Weston. They remained active members of Toronto’s Goan community.

Sadly, Len passed away prematurely, after a car accident in PEI in 1996. Many expected that Melba would retire into the life of a reserved widow. But she surprised family and friends with her continued energy, her interest in the lives of all those around her. She derived particular joy from visiting the families of her children – Robin in

Toronto, Andrew in Ottawa, Barbara Ann in Australia, and Rebecca in California. As long as she possibly could, she flew those long distances to visit the growing family.

During her 15 years in a condominium in North York, the condo became the family base, and she loved entertaining visitors with good food, games of Rummikub, and joyful music.

Moving to Chartwell Gibson Retirement Residence in 2014 was the start of a new adventure. She was determined that it would be a positive experience, and once again she surprised friends and family by emerging as a community leader. Her Sunday Hymn Sings, Singalong with Melba, Remembrance Day Services, Canada Day Anthems and Christmas Concerts were memorable.

Melba was predeceased by her beloved husband Leonard. She will be greatly missed by her loving family, including her children and spouses: Robin (Jeff), Andrew (Joann), Barbara Ann (Carl) and Rebecca (Maurice). Each of her nine grandchildren had a special place in her heart, and she did in theirs: Troy and Cassandra in Toronto; Alice and Anthony in Ottawa; Nathalie, Melanie and Joseph in Sydney; Daniel and Rachel in California.

She is lovingly remembered by her three surviving siblings, Joana Pinto Mascarenhas, Gloria Ferreira, and Austin Pinto. Melba was predeceased by siblings Leo, Tessy, Barbara, Stan, Audrey, Burvy, Lourdes and Derek.

Thank you to the staff at Chartwell Gibson Retirement Residence – the caring personal support workers, nurses, dining room staff and administrators - and the excellent team at the Freeman Centre for Palliative Care at NYGH, for their dedication, especially over the last year. She was brave but sanguine through her year-long battle with cancer.

In Melba’s last zoom calls with her family, she expressed the desire that, even at this stage, more of her children and grandchildren might learn to play the piano. She was asked, ‘Didn’t she want us to find a passion, any passion, that gives pleasure to us and to the community, and then work hard to excel at that?” Giving only a little, she replied, ‘Well okay, but I still wish that more of you had learned to play the piano.’ She will be missed.

There will be a funeral Service at St. John the Evangelist Church, 49 George Street, Weston, on Saturday, April 9, 2022 at 10.00 am. A private burial will be held later. Details will be published in the Toronto Star and on the website of Ward Funeral Home, Weston Road.

To maintain a safe space for all, and to protect guests who are elderly or immuno-compromised, we ask that all attendees wear a mask at the service and be fully vaccinated. For reasons of health safety we regret that we will not have a viewing.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to a charity of your choice especially to help the poor and underprivileged.