Dr Bertha de Souza was a courageous trailblazer for women in the shire - and a beautiful person

She was also a beautiful person - known for her gentle, humble and selfless nature and wise counsel.

Dr de Souza, who died on March 29 at 89, was born in India, studied medicine in Bombay (now Mumbai) and, after graduation and gaining several years of experience, migrated to Australia in 1969.

She established practices at Engadine and Caringbah at a time when there were few women GPs in the shire, much less with an ethnic background.

At the same time, Dr de Souza and her husband Patrick, who was also a doctor, were raising five children, who were all under the age of eight when they made their home in Cronulla.

Dr de Souza found it hard to adjust to her new life in Australia and admitted in later life that, after getting the children off to school, she would sometimes take to her bed in sadness.

But, her courage and support from local families who took her under their wing got her through those difficult days.

Dr de Souza accepted misfortune and would tell her family in tough times, "Don't worry, just let it be".

Appropriately, the Beatles classic was added to the hymns when Dr de Souza was farewelled at St Aloysius Gonzaga Catholic Church in a mass concelebrated by five priests.

The service was told Dr de Souza was "a strong woman of faith".

"She had an unambiguous response to her faith. Everything she did, everything she was, was because of her faith," the congregation was told.

Dr de Souza was born in 1932 in the village of Aldona, Goa, delivered by her father, a renowned doctor.

At that time, Goa was a colony of Portugal and the culture, including religion and language, was moulded by the Portuguese.

Living conditions were hard and she and her siblings rolled out their bedding each night and slept together on the floor.

Food was short during WW ll and often the family's three meals were made from the mangoes or jackfruit that grew from trees in the family compound.

Bertha studied medicine in Bombay (Mumbai), but after finishing her internship in 1958 found it difficult to get a job so went to work at an air force base in Aden where she learned to speak Arabic.

She would eventually become fluent in five languages.

While in Aden, she met and married Patrick, also from India and a doctor.

In 1960, Dr Bertha de Souza opened a small practice in her garage, which quickly grew in popularity and was moved to larger premises, with Patrick joining.

In 1965, the couple left Aden because of civil unrest and, after returning to India for three years, migrated to Australia to give their children better education and employment opportunities.

They were not deterred when friends warned them of the "White Australia Policy".

Dr de Souza resumed her medical career in 1973 after the last of the couple's children started school, opening a practice in Engadine where she worked a few days in the morning.

Some years later, she moved her practice to Cawarra Road, Caringbah.

The practice thrived, and Patrick left his position at Concord Repatriation Hospital to join his wife.

They operated the practice for about 35 years.

During this time, they received many community awards.

When Patrick became ill, Bertha cared for him for several years before his death in 2012.

Their children were educated at De La Salle College, Cronulla and went on to successful careers.

Mark came first in the HSC in 1976 at the age of 16 and is a paediatrician, working in Nowra.

Susan qualified as a computer programmer, but now, with her husband Glenn, runs a family business.

Dunstan was managing partner of a major law firm and is now senior partner.

Melanie studied microbiology and is now in recruitment, while Nigel studied accounting and has become a customs officer

Bertha and Patrick de Souza's legacy includes 11 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.