A Digital Remembrance: Honouring My Parental Legacy
This website and blog serve as a dedicated testament to the enduring legacy of my parents. It is a space crafted to honor their lives, their contributions, and the indelible mark they left on my children and me.
In Loving Memory of Jeanne Marie Celeste Davids (nee Rhoode). 1948 - 2022 (74)
We remember Jeanne Marie Celeste Davids, who passed away after a courageous battle with illness. Born Jeanne Marie Celeste Rhoode in a house which was named "Rusticana" in the suburb of Claremont, Cape Town on December 8, 1948, she was the youngest daughter in a large family of eighteen siblings. Jeanne's early life was deeply rooted in the Catholic Church, where her faith and spirituality were steadfastly nurtured. Jeanne received her education at St. Augustine’s Primary School and Immaculata High School, both in Wynberg.
In 1970, she met her husband of 50 years, and they were united in marriage on March 26, 1971. Jeanne's life was marked by her profound love for her husband, a dedication vividly seen in her unwavering loyalty and immense sacrifice as he travelled the seas as a devoted seaman. Her commitment to him was a testament to the depth of her heart. Together, they built a family, raising three sons all of whom survive her. Jeanne was a loving and nurturing mother to her sons, and she was known for her unwavering dedication, willing to do anything and sacrifice everything for her three boys and husband. She also found immense joy in caring for her five grandchildren—two grandsons and three granddaughters.
Throughout most of her life, Jeanne enjoyed robust health, free from common ailments such as diabetes, hypertension, or heart conditions. However, between 2016 and 2018, her family observed changes in her memory recall and overall demeanour. By the end of 2018, Jeanne received a diagnosis of early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. This news, while challenging, was met with remarkable resilience by her immediate family, who promptly began managing the progression of this debilitating condition.
As the years advanced, so did the Alzheimer’s. By 2019, Jeanne's short-term memory significantly declined, and her cognitive abilities, including her capacity for reasoning, began to diminish as she entered the middle stages of the disease.
In October 2020, a new health challenge emerged. Following an observation by her eldest granddaughter, a mammogram and ultrasound revealed a large tumor in her left breast, which had metastasised into her lymphatic system. Subsequent biopsies, CAT scans, and X-rays confirmed that the carcinoma had spread to her lungs, leading to a diagnosis of T4 Breast Carcinoma, or Stage 4 Terminal Breast Cancer.
Jeanne Marie-Celeste Davids will be remembered for her strength, her enduring faith, and the deep love she shared with her family, especially as a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. We are humbled that she passed away peacefully in her own bed, in her bedroom, in her house, and at her own time.
We are also comforted knowing she was not in a hospital bed or an institution all alone; she passed with her husband, three sons, daughters-in-law, and all her grandchildren around her. Her memory will forever be cherished by those whose lives she touched.
Following her death, medical professionals confirmed that Jeanne's passing was not a direct result of her breast cancer. Instead, the cause of death was attributed to complications from Alzheimer's disease, which led to progressive neurological decline and subsequent multi-organ failure, including renal failure.
In Loving Memory of Godfrey Ebenezer Davids 1944 - 2024 (80)
We remember the passing of Godfrey Ebenezer Davids, who departed suddenly yet peacefully. Born on January 11, 1944, in Woodstock, Cape Town, and one of 3 siblings, he was the only son. He received his education at St. Francis Primary, St. Augustine's Primary, and St. Columbus High School.
Godfrey was a devoted family man, a loving father to five children from two marriages—two daughters from his first marriage and three sons from his second, Jeanne. He was also a proud grandfather to nine and a great-grandfather to three.
After high school, Godfrey initially pursued an apprenticeship in carpentry, but his profound passion for the sea and the shipping industry soon took precedence. In the 1960s, he embarked on his maritime journey with Safmarine as a "Chippie," or ship's carpenter. Though he briefly worked as a carpenter for Murray & Steward, his undeniable love for the ocean led him back to Safmarine in the early 1970s.
Driven by an aspiration to become a Navigating Officer, Godfrey attended maritime school at the Training Center for Seaman, then part of the Peninsula Technikon (Pentech) Campus in Bellville. In the early 1980s, he achieved his South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) Coastal Certificate of Competency, also known as a Mate's Ticket. He later advanced to obtain his Master's Coastal Certificate of Competency, subsequently serving with distinction as a 2nd Navigating Officer for the worlds largest diamond mining company until his retirement.
Godfrey was an extraordinary individual with a remarkable ability to absorb and retain vast amounts of information, which he could recall with effortless ease. This exceptional capacity for knowledge made him truly intelligent and insightful. He also possessed a gift for sharing his understanding, making him an excellent communicator and a natural teacher.
Beyond his intellectual pursuits, Godfrey was a talented and accomplished photographer, showcasing a keen eye for capturing beauty and significant moments through his lens. His creative interests extended to the world of cinema, as he was an avid enthusiast of movies and film making. Godfrey's insatiable curiosity, exceptional memory, and passion for sharing knowledge, combined with his artistic talents, truly made him a remarkable individual.
In his later years, at the age of 72, he took on the role of primary caregiver for his ailing wife, Jeanne, a testament to his profound dedication, until her passing in 2022. Godfrey's distinguished career and rich personal life are a testament to his unwavering dedication, hard work, and deep love for the sea.
He passed away suddenly yet peacefully in the arms of his youngest and eldest son, and in the presence of his best friend, his grandson. His enduring legacy will be cherished by his children, grandchildren, family, friends, and the entire maritime community.
Godfrey's death was a result of long-standing cardiovascular disease. His advanced age of 80 contributed to the overall frailty of his heart. The underlying conditions of chronic hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, along with a history of a quadruple bypass in his late 40s and multiple coronary artery stents, led to a state of cardiac exhaustion and failure.
Their Final Resting Place: Jeanne and Godfrey Davids
On February 12, 2022, just after midnight, Jeanne Marie Celeste Davids was called home. Her funeral service took place on March 5, 2022, at Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church in Lansdowne, Cape Town. Following the service, led by Father Christopher Sharpe, she was interred in the church’s Garden of Remembrance.
Her beloved husband, Godfrey Ebenezer Davids, passed away on December 8, 2024, between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM, on what would have been Jeanne’s 76th birthday. His funeral service was held on January 11, 2025, which would have been his 81st birthday, also at Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church in Lansdowne, Cape Town. Father Christopher Sharpe officiated, and Godfrey was subsequently interred in the church’s Garden of Remembrance alongside his wife Jeanne.
Both Jeanne and Godfrey chose aquamation, a water-based cremation process utilizing alkaline hydrolysis, provided by one of South Africa's largest funeral home’s. The same process chosen by Nobel Peace Laureate: Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It is truly heart-warming to know that their choice reflected a desire to contribute to environmental sustainability, helping to secure a better future for their loved ones and generations to come.