" "I really don't know what to say …..thank you all so very much for your encouraging support.   It is hard for me and I do love my wife Kathy very much I am totally lost without her I have had a wonderful life with her God bless her.

thank you,

love always Dad.❤️❤️""

It is with great sadness that I announce the peaceful and unexpected passing of Claude Anthony de Souza on May 17 ^th , 2022 in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.  Born on July 7 ^th , 1939 in Georgetown, Guyana, son of  Cyril and Celeste (Alfonso) de Souza. Devoted husband and father, Claude leaves behind his dear wife of 40 years Katherine de Souza; beloved daughter Joanne Copeland; son Paul de Souza; step children Tania Gooding and Greg Gooding; adoring grandchildren Quinn, Rebecca, Rachel, Jack, Noah, Emme, Adam and Nathan, and his two caring and wonderful sisters, Camille Ferreira and Barbara Becker.

We also want to acknowledge his dear, loving friend and former wife Rebecca de Souza, whom he enjoyed a long friendship with for 60 years. While Claude was not a member of any particular church, he was a devout Christian who started each day of his life quietly reading his bible over his morning coffee. He enjoyed a long friendship with Rebecca's partner, Jerimiah O'Connor, as well as with his wife Kathy's former husband, Bruce Gooding. He was a role model to many in his humility,  tireless work ethic and athletic prowess.

As a young man, Claude left Guyana after the death of his parents and moved to Trinidad and then on to Barbados, where his dear sister Norma de Freitas and her husband Billy welcomed him into their family and acted as surrogate parents to young Claude.  Not long after that, Claude moved to Toronto, Canada to be with his sisters Camille and Barbara, who had made Toronto their home. Camille, the matchmaker, worked for CIBC bank in Toronto alongside her friend, Rebecca Nugent, who had just relocated to Canada from Ireland.  Camille introduced Claude to Rebecca, and it was not long after that the couple returned to Ireland  and were married.  While in Ireland, Claude played football for the local Lisburn Distillery Football Club. However, as the Irish Troubles became disruptive, the young couple soon moved back to Toronto, which would remain home.

Claude did not like the long Canadian winters and found himself back in Barbados, where his sister Norma introduced him to Katherine (Kathy) Gooding, who became the soulmate of his life and wife of 40 years. Kathy and Claude remained inseparable for the rest of their lives and lived between Barbados, Toronto and Naples, Florida.

As a young man in the West Indies, Claude raced road bicycles winning several trophies, tried out for a professional football club in Brazil and then committed the rest of his life to the love of tennis. He was an avid tennis player and a passionate tennis fan. While in Florida, Claude played tennis every single day well into his late 70's, and his personal schedule revolved around the major global tennis tournament broadcasts, with his absolute favorite being the U.S Open.

Claude was an ethical, moral and spiritual role model, who valued time spent with his family and extended family more than anything else in life.  His sisters in Toronto, Camille and Barbara, were surrogate parents who cared for him deeply, and in turn he became a brother to their families.

Claude's greatest legacy to his family was his traveling heart, which was true to his Portuguese roots and the extended family that he leaves behind in Barbados, Canada, Ireland and Trinidad.

The family wishes to thank all those family members who have opened up their homes, their hearts and extended their arms around all of Claude's family and who went out of their way to make them feel welcome.

Claude's children and step children are planning a celebration of life in the coming months, and everyone will be invited to come and share their stories and joy about this man who seemed to never run out of jokes and gags to share.