GOMEZ FAMILY OF 71 MAIN ROAD IN THE UPLANDS AREA OF OTTAWA

 

             DESCENDANTS OF SRI LANKAN AND                      PORTUGUESE ANCESTORS

 

(Mr Clement Gomez)  

                                  (Mrs Angela Gomez)

                                       

 By Subry Govender

 

One of the families in Ottawa who became famous for making and selling pickles in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s is the Gomez family.

Mr Clement Gomez Govender, his wife, Angela, and their nine children lived in a house on the Old Main Road in the uplands area of the village. Their house number was 71 Main Road.

Mr Gomez and his family settled in Ottawa in 1964 after moving down from Johannesburg. In Johannesburg, Mr Gomez ran his own photographic studio at 41 Fox Street in central Johannesburg.

In Ottawa, Mr Gomez became good friends of Mr S S Maharaj, owner of Flash Clothing, and Mr Dicky Maharaj, who was one of the supervisors at the factory.

This friendship led to Mr Gomez and his wife selling their pickles to workers at the factory and also to the residents of Ottawa.

(Gomez children when they were growing up in Ottawa)

Here in Ottawa, three of their nine children were born. They are Paul Gomez, Peter Gomez and Mary Gomez. The other six children are Anthony Gomez, Saras, Christopher, Vincent, Monica and Agnez.

         (Gomez children when they were                        growing up in Ottawa)

According to Agnes Gomez, who I interacted with about the Gomez family history, their grand-      parents came from Portuguese East Africa and their great-grand-parents from Ceylon, which is now known as Sri Lanka.

“This is how we got the Gomez surname,” she said.

All the Gomez children went to school in Ottawa and thereafter completed their high school at the Mount Edgecombe High School.

In 1987 all the children left home after taking up their careers in various professions and getting married. Some settled in areas outside Ottawa and some even moved to Johannesburg because of greater job opportunities.

One brother, Paul, lives in Palmview, near Ottawa; two sisters – Mary and Saras – live in Phoenix; Peter in Boksburg, near Johannesburg, Agnez in Lenasia; Anthony in Stanger;

and Christopher, Vincent and Monica live in the Durban area.

Mr Gomez sold his house in Ottawa in 1987 to Urban Motors of Verulam and thereafter moved to Johannesburg. Mr Gomez passed away a year later in1988 and his wife, Angela, passed away in 2013.                                            

“We had our best childhood days in Ottawa and Ottawa will always be home to us. My father also helped as a voluntary labourer in the building of the new Jhugroo school.

“One of my fondest memories is that of learning first aid every Saturday afternoon with uncle Ralph.

“One of my best friends from primary school was Mr Heeraman Mahabeer’s daughter, Ameetha, who is married to Dilip. I still keep in contact with her and we are friends for ever. This friendship is now over 50 years.”  

According to Agnez she can recall the names of SS Maharaj, Dicky Maharaj, Dilraj Duttoo, Manilall Ramnanan, Madho Ramnanan, Mr Mahabeer, Mr  Munn, Mr Ruthan, Mr Balmohan (Barley) and Mr Gobinder as being leaders of the community.

The descendants of the Gomez family have made tremendous strides with members entering the academic world as teachers, lecturers, banking officials and one nephew working in Dubai. Ends – subrygovender@gmail.com Nov 14 2023