Maria Deus DeSousa, age 75 of New Bedford, passed away at St. Luke’s Hospital on July 9, 2014. She was the loving widow of Gualter Sousa and the daughter of Maria da Gloria (Barbosa) and Jose Simao. She was born in Sao Miguel, Açores, moved to this country in 1984 and was a dedicated mother to her loving family.
Mrs. DeSousa was an active member of the Espirito Santo Club.
Her family includes her 11 children: Jose Luis DeSousa, Gualter M. DeSousa, Valdemar N. DeSousa, Duarte M. DeSousa, all of New Bedford, Adelino R. DeSousa of Florida, Osvaldo M. DeSousa of New Bedford; Louisa Cabral of Sao Miguel, Maria E. Machado, Maria N. Botelho and Maria G. DePina, all of New Bedford, and the late Emanuel DeSousa; 5 siblings: Deolinda Estrela of New Bedford, Louisa Pimentel and Rosa B. Tavares, both of Dartmouth, Jose Simao of Cambridge and the late Manuel Simao; as well as 24 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Her funeral will be Friday morning beginning in the funeral home at 8:00 A.M. and continuing with a Mass of Christian Burial being celebrated at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church at 9:00 A.M. Burial will follow in Rural Cemetery. Visiting hours will take place in the funeral home on Thursday evening from 6 – 8 P.M. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Arrangements placed in the care of Perry Funeral Home, 111 Dartmouth St. in New Bedford.