Amancio Sousa Resendes

1953 - 2020

Amancio (Al) Resendes passed peacefully on  Tuesday, December 1, 2020 due to surgery complications. He was born in Santa Maria, Azores on June 25, 1953. Our parents had decided to immigrate to Canada with the hope of better opportunities for all of us. In 1965 our mother gathered all of us and we made our way to Canada to join our father who had immigrated 2 years previously and had settled in Calgary.

To make our way from airport to airport, our mother wanted us all to hold hands. All seven children held each other’s hands in the order from oldest to youngest. Al being the oldest at the tender age of 12, was given the task of making sure his six younger siblings (including a toddler) never let go of each other. He knew how hard his mother was working and was glad to help her in any way he could. He never let go of his siblings, and made sure they made their way to Calgary hand in hand; despite some sore hands and annoyed brothers and sisters! Years later, our father would still comment about his amazement when we walked through the arrival gate and he saw all of his children in a single file, from oldest to youngest holding hands.

Family was always important to Al, and when he started one of his own, Al always expressed that his greatest accomplishments were his children, Rebecca and Robert, and being a grandfather to Ethen, Hayden and Larkyn. Although separated by distance, Al always carried them in his heart and never failed to pull out a picture from his wallet to show everyone. Their pictures along with those of his very extended family adorned his home.

Al worked his entire adult life in the construction field where he excelled as a heavy equipment operator. When asked what his occupation was, he stated with great pride: “I’m a Grader Operator.” He helped in the development of numerous roads, communities, shopping centres, etc. in Calgary and other areas of Alberta.

Al might have been a small man in stature but he had a huge and generous heart. He appreciated the simple things in life and greeted everyone with a smile and often with a joke or two. He’d leave you laughing or at least smiling. Al’s vehicle of choice was a Jeep Wrangler in which he enjoyed taking long road trips. Al really enjoyed wearing his cowboy hats and was the proud owner of quite a few of them. Throw in a pair of cowboy boots, western shirt and he was a truly happy man. The last few years his “Portugal” cap also became a favourite.

A good man, loving father, proud grandfather, big brother and loyal friend. Al will be greatly missed by his immediate and extended family; friends. especially his closest friend, Anita; and also his second family at Mugs Pub where Al, or as he was often referred to “Portuguese Al”, and enjoyed his daily supper sitting on his regular stool at the Horseshoe. Often he would be working on a crossword or Sudoku puzzle from the paper he had picked up after getting his morning coffee at the local A&W. Not to say it took him all day to solve them, he just liked to extend the suspense until the final completion!

Al is lovingly remembered by his son, Robert; grandchildren, Ethen, Hayden and Larkyn; sisters; Maggie, Celeste, Anna and Beni; brothers, Nick and Dennis; four aunts; numerous nephews and nieces; as well as a very extended family.

Al was predeceased by his parents, Jose and Teolinda; his beloved daughter, Rebecca; and mother of his children, Linda.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date.

The family along with Anita would like to express our sincere gratitude to the medical team at the Peter Lougheed  Hospital, ICU Unit 28 for the excellent and compassionate care Al was given.