Sylvia Gonzalves née Ally: – Born: March 15, 1945 – Died: April 14, 2016 |20 April 2016

Health professionals join family to mourn loss of long serving midwife

Serving and retired midwives and other health professionals as well as Health Minister Mitcy Larue yesterday afternoon joined the children, grandchildren, siblings, relatives and friends to bid farewell to Sylvia Gonzalves née Ally.

A much-loved and admired midwife, Mrs Gonzalves passed away on Thursday April 14 after losing her battle against cancer. She was born on March 15, 1945.

She joined the Ministry of Health in 1962 as a nurse and retired as a midwife in 2002.

Mrs Gonzalves was named Midwife of the Year by the Nurses Association of Seychelles (Nars) in July 1989 for her exceptional devotion and commitment towards the profession.

She has been described as an extraordinary midwife, colleague, friend, mother, grandmother, wife, sister …  

Hailing from Praslin, she was used to be called the rose of the maternity of the then Victoria Hospital.

“For us midwives Mrs Gonzalves was our role model in the midwifery practice and midwifery care. She was very compassionate, charismatic and meticulous and disciplined throughout her tenure in the Ministry of Health,” Nars chairperson Rosie Bistoquet said in a testimony during her funeral inside a packed Cathedral of Immaculate Conception yesterday afternoon.

Kerry-Anne, the first born of Mrs Gonzalves’ five grandchildren, expressed heartfelt gratitude to everyone who had made time to join the family to celebrate the life of her grandma. She described her as an extraordinary woman who lived a life full of joy and happiness as the devoted wife to the love of her life and husband Jimmy for 51 years and surrounded by her four children, siblings, other family members and countless friends.

“Her life was full of joie de vivre and she had an excellent sense of balance between her professional life and her family life,” Kerry-Anne said. She added that her grandma made history throughout her life as anyone who knew her knows her generosity, work ethics and selflessness – qualities she demonstrated time and time again with every newborn who landed on her soft and delicate fingers and for whom she cared for as her very own.

“She took pride in her career as a midwife and her 40 years of service earned her a lifetime of friendship, respect and gratitude,” she added.

Through her sheer devotion, commitment and positive attitude, Mrs Gonzalves has contributed immensely towards the health system in Seychelles.

Mrs Gonzalves, together with her two other sisters, Jeanine and Patricia – both retired nurses – previously donated a mobile kidney dialysis machine to the Baie Ste Anne Hospital on Praslin – their native island.

Following her funeral service Mrs Gonzalves’ body was cremated in a private ceremony.