Dr. Prafulla Margaret Tellis Coelho

Dr. Prafulla Margaret Tellis Coelho died peacefully on January 22, 2025 in Vancouver, British Columbia. She was 88 years old. She is survived by her daughter Trudy Ann, sons Roy and Glen. Grandmother of Trevor, Rowan, Daniel, Sydney, Sophia and Luke. 

Prafulla was born in India into a Hindu family. 

Her Indian name means : Ever Blooming

She grew up in Goa, when it was occupied by the Portuguese. Later as a teenager she went to Christian boarding schools in Bombay. In 1960, she converted to Catholicism when she married her husband the Late Dr. Sydney Tellis, a Catholic. 

Prafulla has many accolades to her name. She was a children’s dentist and a professor at the Nair Dental college in Bombay. She spoke about 6 languages, loved to run marathons, climb mountains and ball room dance. She was also a proponent to use food for medicine. She offered much of her time doing charitable dental work for the needy. She was a champion to motivate others.

It was important to her to visit the old and sick.

Her business card reads: I treat, He heals.

In her work and life, she made it her duty to help others. She hired orphans from St Joseph’s orphanage, located right by her dental clinic in Bombay to assist at her clinic.

She made prayer her focus. Towards the later years of her life, she memorized saying her daily Rosary in Latin; loved listening to Gregorian Chants and reading her Bible. 

In lieu of flower donations, please consider making a donation to Holy Rosary Cathedral, Vancouver to the Building Restoration.