Speaking with retiree José Alves de Mello, uncle Zico, 93, was a sign of certainty: when saying goodbye, he asked for the blessing of God and the saints so that the interlocutor could return home in peace and safety.
The eldest of a family of seven brothers, every year, in the month of June, he wanted to bring together his large family to recite the rosary to Saint John, whose date is celebrated on the 24th, and ask everyone for protection.
But the occasion didn’t matter. It could be to say goodbye during a phone call in which Zico asked God, Jesus Christ, Our Lady and Saint John to light the way, and always reminded his family and friends of the importance of having faith.
This mantra was very spontaneous and appeared very early in his life. The year he turned 21, in 1953, he became the oldest man in the family, with the premature departure of his father at the age of 39: he died in the arms of his sister Maria Aparecida, while she was pregnant with her second daughter, Selma, mother of the author of this text.
Despite the difficulties of family life, he found time to show the Bible in comic strips to his nephews and to tell stories involving David and Goliath or Samson and Delilah, for example.
I also really liked cinema. Even though he lived on a farm in the rural area of Batatais (352 km from São Paulo), he harnessed his white, long-maned horse and rode into town.
As age advanced, a problem became more and more common along the way: retinitis pigmentosa, an eye disease that causes a progressive reduction in the visual field and which affects part of the family.
Despite this, Zico used to walk the streets near his home until about two decades ago, until the progression of his disease led to the complete loss of his vision.
Already a widower, he began to leave home less, but three years ago a big party celebrated his 90th birthday. Faith? It continued unabated despite all obstacles, and the annual rosaries continued to bring together around fifty people at the home of the oldest member of the Mello family.
Suffering from pneumonia, he was admitted to Santa Casa de Batatais the last week of November. He was released and returned home, but his condition worsened in the following days and Zico, again admitted, died on the morning of the 1st.
In addition to his legacy of faith, he leaves behind his children Carmen Terezinha, Maria Cleusa, Carlos Alberto, Claudinei, Wilson and Samuel, 14 grandchildren, sisters Luzia, Ana and Ilda, as well as dozens of nephews and grand-nephews.
column.obituario@grupofolha.com.br
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