Fifi, Père Adolphe

ADOLPHE FIFI Brother Adolphe Fifi, 82 years, passed away on May 5, 2010 at St. Boniface Hospital. He was born at St. Alphonse, Manitoba. Adolphe was predeceased by his parents, Henri Fifi and Marie-Jeanne Baccus and one brother, Hubert. He leaves to mourn him, four brothers, Jean (Mathilde), Armand (Angèle), Noël, Georges (Frances) and four sisters: Marie Rose (André), Yvette (Armand), Tharsile (Leonard), Henriette (Elmer) and many nephews, nieces and the members of the Missionaries of Africa. Adolphe attended primary school at St. Alphonse. After primary school he stayed home with his family on the farm. In 1951, at the age of 23, he decided he wanted to go and work as a missionary in Africa, (White Fathers). He applied to join the Missionaries of Africa and was accepted. After some training in carpentry and electricity he left for Africa in 1960. He was sent to Nyassaland now known as Malawi. He worked in Malawi for 30 years, especially as a builder. His knowledge of electricity, in the course of his stay in Malawi was very useful to him. Brother Adolphe built many buildings of different types but all in burnt bricks. He had trained a crew of about 150 people making bricks and burning them. The soil used to make good bricks is clay found in ant hills. He built schools, churches, hospitals, residences for missionaries and so on. He loved his workers and his workers loved him too. He was a no nonsense man but he was very kind. The workers knew what was expected of them and they responded well. Adolphe was a man of God and always kept in touch with Him in spite of his heavy load of work. He was a man of few words but a man of action. He had many talents which he used to help many people whenever he could. After 30 years in Malawi, including a holiday now and then in Canada to visit his family, Adolphe had to leave Malawi for good for health reasons. After proper medical treatment, he recovered reasonably well. He wanted to go back to Malawi but under the advice of his doctor, he accepted that he could not go back to Africa. That was in 1992. He became the maintenance man of the Missionaries of Africa's house on Hamel Avenue. Last July, the house was sold and the Missionaries took up residence at 151 Despins. Adolphe lived a fruitful life. May God bless him. We would like to express our gratitude to the staff of St. Boniface Hospital and Dr. Coates, family doctor of Adolphe for many years. Many thanks to the administration of Residence Despins, the residents and the nursing staff. Prayers will take place at Desjardins Funeral Chapel, 357 Des Meurons Street, on Monday May 10, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. Funeral service will be held at the St. Boniface Cathedral on Tuesday, May 11 at 2:00 p.m., with viewing taking place from 1:30 p.m. until the time of service. If so desired, donations, in memory of Brother Adolphe, can be made to the Missionaries of Africa, 151 Despins Street, Winnipeg, MB R2H 0L7. DESJARDINS 233-4949 1-888-233-4949Published in the Winnipeg Free Press on May 08, 2010


Source : The Winnipeg Free Press, MB
Parution : 2010-05-08