Annette Gonsalves

Annette Genevieve Gonsalves (née Fernandes) passed away on Friday, September 26, 2025. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Lawrence Gonsalves of Chicago, Illinois.  Annette will be missed by their children: Stan (Shona Vas), Sam, Jackie, and Savio (Carolyn); and grandchildren: John, Isabella, Anthony, Emily, Nihal, and Riya. Annette is survived by her sisters, Maggie Baptista of Perth and Joyce Miranda of Dar-es-Salaam, sisters and brothers in law: Joanita (Robert) Birkmeyer, Jane (James) Collins, and Leslie (Maureen) Gonsalves, and their families.

Annette was born in Zanzibar on February 10, 1938 to Julie and Gabriel Fernandes as the fourth of seven children. In 1975, she and her family moved to Chicago, IL to begin a new chapter in their lives. Annette worked hard to support her young family and retired in 2005 to provide care for her grandchildren. They will all remember grandma’s rice, her generous hospitality, and the importance of keeping a clean and tidy home. Annette moved to Sebastian, Florida in 2022 and was an active resident who did tai-chi and joined events at the community clubhouse. She kept up with her family and friends across the globe through phone calls, text messages, and social media. During her 87 years, she prevailed over many illnesses and her resilience was notable until the very end. Annette’s daughter, Jackie, dedicated most of the last several months to tend to her mother with love and gentleness. Annette’s passing will create a void in the lives of those who loved her.

Visitation for Annette Gonsalves will be held on Sunday, October 5th, 2025 from 4 to 7 pm at Cumberland Chapels, 8300 W. Lawrence Avenue, Norridge IL, 60706. Funeral services on Monday, October 6th, 2025 will start at 9 am at the funeral home and proceed to St. William Church at 2600 N. Sayre Avenue for 10 am Mass. Burial will follow at Maryhill Cemetery located at 8600 Milwaukee Avenue, Niles, IL 60714. Messages of condolence may be addressed to the Gonsalves family via email: [email protected] and [email protected] . In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Annette’s honor may be made to the National Shrine of St. Jude: https://secure2.convio.net/sjlcp/site/Donation2?df_id=3100&3100.donation=form1