RUFINA FERNANDES (4th September 1944 to 21st April 2007)

Rufina Fernandes (nee Alfonso) was the third child of John Baptist Alfonso and Anna Christina Alfonso and sister to Max, Faby, Delfine, Lolita, Mervyn, Teresa and Adolf. She was born in Nairobi, Kenya on September 4, 1944. She married Cyprian Fernandes in 1970 and they had three children: Andreeanna , Leon and Carl.

She was a former student of Dr. Ribeiro's Goan School , Nairobi , and completed her Senior Cambridge (School Certificate) at Mary Hill School in Thika , Kenya. She proved to be an excellent athlete, winning the junior school track and field championship in 1958 and the senior school track and field championship in 1959. She was an excellent hockey player and represented the Railway Goan Institute for many years and most of all she enjoyed every minute of it. She also represented the Kenya “B” team.

Singing was her favourite past time and something that she excelled in. She performed in several concerts, sang on TV, and appeared with quite a few bands in London , England . She was a lead singer for Picadilly and will always be remembered for such songs as Walk right Back, Among My Souveniers, Don't Leave Me This Way, Summertime, and her unforgettable Little Green Apples. Fishing, gardening, arts and crafts were her other big passions in life. She did everything with a zest that was delightful. She was the most gentle, soft and generous person all her life, never complaining about anything and always thinking the best of others.

If you would like to send a message to Cyprian and family please send it to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it More information regarding funeral arrangements will be published on www.goansw.com as they come to hand.

Tony Colaco
GOA NSW Inc Australia