By Hemacharya
Mumbai, Apr 14: Pressy nee Carmine Mendonca (D'Mello) who was a popular poetess on Poinnari, Jhelo, Mithr and other Konkani journals under her penname, 'Premi Kirem' passed away in Bahrain on Saturday, April 13. She was 60 years of age.
Pressy Mendonca was the eldest daughter of Bombay based well-known Konkani playwright the late Baptist Mendonca (Bams) who was not only a backbone of Konkani journals and artistes, but was also a stalwart comedian and director of many Konkani dramas organised under Kirem Namvacho Natak Pangad (KNNP) which had their shows in Mangaluru, Bahrain besides Bombay. Pressy was an active member of KNNP and managed its finances as its treasurer.
Pressy, based in Mumbai (Charcop) and married to William D'Mello, and had triplets, Chalsea (Vanessa), Cletus and Chris.
According to Fr Baptist D'Souza her maternal uncle and a SVD missionary now in Orissa, Pressy had been to Bahrain on a visit to take part in the birthday/first Holy Communion ceremony of her sister's daughter where she met her life's unexpected finale.
It may be recalled that her younger sister Philomena Braz Mendonca (Baby) who was an actress on Konkani dramas staged by KNNP alongside her father Bams passed away last year due to prolonged illness.
Funeral details of Pressy D'Mello Mendonca are awaited.