from Fr Francis Rodrigues, Raknno 

Sophie D’Souza (mostly known as Sophie teacher) who is a retired teacher hailing from Farla Parish (formerly Agrar Parish)  passed away on Wednesday September 4th  2013 at 1 a.m. in a private hospital in Mangalore  because of cancer.  She was 75 years old.  She is the daughter of late Mathias and late Isabella D’Souza;  is the sister of Most Rev. Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, the  Bishop of Mangalore;  Fr Charles D’Souza of Delhi Archdiocese;  Sr Janice A.C., Pune;  late Maxim D’Souza/Juliana;  Miss Celine M. D’Souza (Retd. Teacher) and Michael D’Souza, aunt of Muriel / Francis, Melvyn / Flossy, Placid / Juliet,  Noel / Beulla, Sr M Sevika AC, Daisy D'Souza, Sr M Myrtle AC, Melba / Walter & Meena / Newton.

She was born on 25th of October 1938 in Agrar Parish.  As a teacher she has taught for 39 years.  After having taught for 2 years (1958 to 1960) in Thodambila-Modankaup School she was the teacher at Agrar School for 18 years (1960-1978) and was the headmistress at Farla church school for 19 years (1978-1997). She was an active socio-political animator as well as creative lay leader in the Catholic church.  She has served as the panchayath member for one term in Moodanadugodu panchayath. She has served as the secretary of Parish Pastoral Council, zonal president as well as secretary of Catholic Sabha and as the official of women’s association.  She was the animator and has given leadership in establishing the new parish of Farla, establishing women’s association, teaching  catechism, singing, parish projects, distributing scholarships-books-uniform to the poor students, bulbuls and guides units.
 
As a teacher she has taught thousands of students.  Many well-known figures of the society were her students.  To site a few, Most Rev. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, the Bishop of Udupi, Most Rev. Dr Pius Thomas D’Souza, the Bishop of Ajmeer, Fr Pius D’Souza O.C.D. the Episcopal Vicar for Religious in the Diocese of Mangalore are her students. 

Her funeral procession would be held at 3.30 p.m. on Thursday September 5th from her Hekkottu-Farla residence and funeral Mass would be celebrated at 4 p.m. at Our Lady of Vailankanni Church, Farla.

Ph:  + 91 8255-311261 / 206625   Cell :  +91 97313 25070