HELEN D’CRUZ

Africa Journey and Early Days
Once upon a time, around a 100 years ago in then far away East Africa, currently Tanzania, in Dar es Salaam, there lived a young kindhearted Indian Mangalorean Doctor called Alexander Correa, his wife Flora and two children called Edward and Baptista. They were such a happy family. They loved music, they loved people. All of them either played a musical instrument or sang.

On 6th of August 1933, in Dar es Salaam, they had their first girl child whom they named Helen Juliana Correa.

And after a few years was born William Correa. Helen’s mother and brothers went back to India to continue education in India, while their father stayed back in Dar es Salaam.

Suddenly, tragedy struck the family! In India, they received a telegram that their father Alexander died of a heart attack!

Helen was just 5 years old. But they took it in their stride. Life in Mangalore was tough. Flora brought up her 4 children as a single parent.

Helen was high spirited. She was born musical. She would sing, dance, act with her friends and neighbours in school and in church. They would walk miles to school bare feet in those days. They did not have much money or any luxuries. But life was simply beautiful, full of goodness, humour, laughter, great friendships and songs.

She was a good girl, but naughty in school and church. She and her friend Celine were notorious gigglers in church and school. Volunteers were assigned to separate them.

Helen so wanted to touch the Piano, but it was not allowed. She had to pay fines several times. But she was a dreamer. She kept dreaming of pianos and pianos. She dreamt of being a singer and that too a famous one. Her friends predicted that she would be a great singer one day.

Graduation, Mumbai, Marriage
The family moved to Bombay when Helen was in her late teens. In the Big City of Bombay, she met amazing great people who she looked up to and learnt from. One special friend was her friend and future Sister-in-law, Leena, who encouraged her to study, to read, to learn, to make careful friendships, make wise decisions, and to be bold, confident and honest. So, as she stepped out boldly, her dreams and wishes started becoming reality.

# She wished to be a Radio Singer. She stepped into AIR and was accepted as an All-India Radio Singer. She had a 20-year contract with All India Radio. One of her hit songs, Ye Ye Katrina was aired every day, for 2 years in a row.

# She wished she had a good Songwriter and Composer and was searching. One fine day, a young lad walked into one of the singing practice sessions. He was none other than Henry D’Souza, today the most famous and prolific composer of Mangalore. Henry then composed songs for Helen. These included Ye Ye Katrina among several Konkani hits.

# Helen was wishing for a life partner. She just could not find the right person, in spite of having met so many people. One Sunday afternoon, she decided to go to her cousin’s house for a lunch party. A visitor gatecrashed along with his invited friend at that party. The visitor was none other than Vincent Salvador D’Cruz, the tall dark and handsome Vincent. It was love at first sight for both. And yet another wish come true for Helen!

# Even before meeting Vincent, she had a dream, like Joseph in the Bible. She ran and told her brothers and cousins; “Guess what, yesterday I dreamt that at my Wedding Nuptials, it was the Cardinal who said the Mass”. Her brothers and cousins laughed at her and said, “Who do you think you are? Are you the daughter of a Judge or a Minister that a Cardinal will get you married?” But her wish came true again. After just a few years, when it was time for her to get married to Vincent, it happened to be 1964 and there was the Eucharistic Congress Celebration. So, for her wedding, there was not just one Cardinal, but several Bishops, Priests and the Archbishops to celebrate the Mass at Helen and Vincent’s Wedding.

# The story goes on. One day, at her Indian Music Class in Mumbai, famous Indian Film Singer Hemant Kumar was the Guest Artist. After the class, the prettiest girl was asked to garland him. How Helen wished that she was the prettiest girl for one day so that she could garland him. A few years later, more than her wish came true. Hemant Kumar agreed to sing with her in Konkani. After the HMV recording, Hemant Kumar garlanded Helen.

Kuwait
The Story of Diamonds: In Kuwait, Helen had just made a pledge never to buy diamonds because her friends were going out to buy diamonds. She decided to sacrifice “Diamonds Forever”. A few weeks later, while she was working at the Commercial Bank of Kuwait, one of her customers left a gift for all the staff. Everyone got gold. Helen was the only one to get a pair of beautiful set of diamond earrings from Tribhovandas Jewellers.

She wished she would have a good family. Her first born, Colin, so handsome and intelligent, full of humour, even modelled as a small child. Second, Yvonne, was such a beautiful and lovely child, and was called “Sharmila Tagore” by everyone. She was an all-rounder and could achieve anything she wanted. The third, that is my dear wife, Fiona Lorraine, who is Helen’s Musical wish come true. Her dreams of Pianos came to life through Fiona Lorraine over these several years. Mother was so happy when she knew that Fiona Lorraine could sing in tune at such an early age and that she had a lot of music in her. The last in line, the baby of the family, loved by all, Marianne or Babila, who is Helen’s Singing wish come true. So, all of Helen’s wishes came true with her children. And it does not end there.

Now their spouses come in. Savio was too good to be true. A perfect and unbelievable match for Yvonne. It was the best thing that could happen when Yvonne married Savio. Next: Navaz & Colin. The story goes that Helen liked Navaz. It was love at first sight for her. She liked Navaz and her flute. She kept asking her questions. And before long, Colin and Navaz were engaged and married. Then came Aubrey for Fiona Lorraine. Mother-in-grace and Son-in-grace have the most special relationship. She understands him perfectly. When she first met Aubrey at his home, she said to him “Today, you may be a nobody, but you will be a great person one day. You will be a Multi-Millionaire. You are intelligent. You are a good person. We are waiting for all of this to happen. Go for it!” And Rohan, who could be better than Rohan for Marianne. The way Rohan and Marianne have taken care of Mum is really outstanding!

Church
Helen was very much into Astrology. She believed in stars and superstition, until her life took a big turn after joining the charismatic movement and knew more about God than she used to do earlier. The church played an important role in her life ever since. She was not just a “religious” person. She would do great acts of kindness despite having a full-time job in Kuwait with 4 children at home, with no servants or help. She was a part of the Legion of Mary; she was the Curia Secretary. Helen with her friends started an organisation called Seekers to help the down-trodden.

Charity
Aubrey clearly recalls the very first day he met his future Mother-in-Grace, Helen D’Cruz, when she came to Mumbai on a holiday. She shared in great anguish, “Aubrey, my containers have not yet arrived from Kuwait.” Hearing this Aubrey thought she was a great Business-Woman dealing in Import-Export. Being an International Banker with Canara Bank, he quizzed her about her consignment, only to discover that she was shipping the rich Kuwaiti’s old clothes for free distribution among the less fortunate people in India. He then realised her charitable nature and concern for the poor & the needy.

There are countless stories of her golden heart.

The Living Word Church has been a great support to her during all these years in India.

Helen would like to remember and thank with gratitude, all her family and friends who have supported and helped her in life. She remembers her first cousin, Uncle Jiloo, who supported her in Music.

Helen remembers and would like to thank her brother-in-law Uncle Arthur and Vincent’s sister Ena, who helped them with the purchase of their Mumbai house.

Helen remembers fondly and would like to thank her late husband, Vincent D’Cruz, who has supported her wholeheartedly throughout her musical career.

We have had family and friends, get-togethers and parties. We want to thank each one of you for being a part of our lives.

Fame
Helen has lakhs of views on various channels on YouTube. She has fans all over the world. Articles and interviews have been recorded in various newspapers and periodicals over the years, including Arab Times, Times of India, DaijiWorld, among several others.

Award
Even though she did not wish for any award, her fans and admirers wished and desired that she would be awarded for her great contribution to the Konkani world of music and culture. At the age of 87, she received a LifeTime Achievement Award in Mangalore.

Her wish for you
Her wish today for all of you is that you are happy, and close to God. She prays everyday for each one of you. She has a well-maintained Prayer Book with over 700 names she prays for diligently every day. Please make sure your name is in the book! And all your wishes may come true!

Long Life
We have always enjoyed our conversations and time spent with my dear Mother, Mother-in-Grace. We look forward to the next decade, the Century mark. May God continue to bless you abundantly with good health and long life!