Jerleth Gonsalves

Jerleth Gonsalves, 93, of Elkhart, died Friday, March 28, at Hubbard Hill following a brief illness.
She was born the second child of seven on November 6, 1931 in Dhaka, Bangladesh to Peter D’Costa and Anastasia Rozario.

She is survived by six children, Julius (Madhurima) Gonsalves, Jersey City, New Jersey, Juliet Green, Elkhart, Jacinta Burger and James (Elaine) Gonsalves, both of Middlebury, Julian (Bably) Gonsalves, of Goshen and John (Katherine) Gonsalves, Elkhart; eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren. She is also survived by one brother, Benjamin D’Costa, Dhaka, Bangladesh and one sister, Dipti Rozario, Atlanta, GA.

She was preceded in death by her husband Jacob Gonsalves, her parents, two sisters and two brothers.

She will be remembered for her generosity, faith, and beautiful smile. She was extremely intelligent and was the first woman in Tumilia Catholic High School to score “First Division” on the SSC (Secondary School Certificate) exam, which is the highest rank available. She graduated from Dhaka University and taught math at Brother Andre Catholic High School in Noakhali, Bangladesh for 35 years. She and her husband Jacob rented property to MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) where she taught missionaries Bengali to aid in their service to the community. She taught the Bengali language to many foreigners including American, Canadian, Danish and Dutch, and her contributions in creating an English to Bengali teaching book were exemplary.  She was the head of the Noakhali Christian Women’s Association and a board member of CARITAS in Bangladesh. In more recent years she transitioned to the United States where all her children reside. She left a mark on every one she met due to her kindness and hospitality. She was a blessing to all those who knew her and will be missed immensely.

Friends may call Friday, April 4 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home and again on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. funeral mass also at the funeral home.

Burial will follow in Violett Cemetery, Goshen.