Mercia Vaz

Mercia Vaz, 98, an adored mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and retired teacher, slipped away peacefully on May 2, 2023, at the Jewish General Hospital. Despite a number of health challenges in recent years, including a broken hip last November, her sudden death of heart failure, just 11 days before her 99th birthday, came as a shock to her family and wide circle of friends.

Born May 13, 1924, in Mumbai, India, to Rosinha and Caetano Vaz, a businessman, Mercia attended a convent school in Santacruz, a suburb of India’s largest city, and earned a degree in history and English at St. Xavier's College. Mercia’s positive attitude and deep religious faith helped her cope with the early deaths of both parents – her mother when she was seven and her father when she was 11. After graduation, Mercia became a teacher at Fort Convent School in Mumbai.

In 1947, Mercia married Joseph Vaz, who had also attended St. Xavier’s and was a journalist at the Times of India for 18 years. In 1964, the family, which now included daughters Joy, then 14, and Rosalind, 12, immigrated to Montreal, where Joe joined the staff of the Montreal Star as a copy editor and Mercia became a teacher at St. Thomas High School. Mercia had initially opposed the move, not wanting to leave behind family and friends, but soon became the proudest of Canadians. The family settled in Pointe Claire and later moved to N.D.G., where the girls attended Loyola College (now Concordia University). In 1971, Joe died suddenly of a heart attack. Despite losing the love of her life, Mercia continued to exemplify optimism and resilience, hosting friends from far and wide in her home and at her table, where her pilaf and curries delighted all. Cosmopolitan and ecumenical, she travelled extensively and befriended people from all cultures and walks of life. After retiring from teaching in 1986, she was a tireless volunteer for several organizations, including Nazareth House, a not-for-profit organization that provides housing and support for people with mental health issues.

She is survived by daughters Joy (Neil Jones) and Rosalind (David MacLean); grandchildren Martin Vaz-Jones (Julia), William Vaz-Jones (Julie), Laura Vaz-Jones (Martin), Ainsley MacLean, (Bruce) Natalie Leino (Russ) and Joanna MacLean (Simon); and nine great-grandchildren: Carlie, Ian, Ramona, Ramsey, Spencer, Clayton, Mackie Benjamin and Abigail; and beloved niece Jean Albert.

Visitation will be held on Friday May 19, 2023, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Collins Clarke MacGillivray White Funeral Home, 5610 Sherbrooke St W. in Montreal.

A funeral Mass will be on Saturday, May 20 at 11 a.m at St Richard’s Parish Church, 7070 Guelph Rd., Côte St Luc.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Nazareth House (1197 Seymour Ave, Montreal, Quebec H3H 2A4, Canada).