Joan C. (Cardoza) Grace, 94, of New Bedford died March 26, 2015 at Brandon Woods of Dartmouth.
She was the former wife of the late Frank M. Almeida and Augustine A. Grace.
Born in New Bedford, daughter of the late Antonio and Maria (Miranda) Cardoza, she lived in New Bedford for many years before moving to Boston in 1960. She returned to live in New Bedford in 1980.
She was a communicant of Our Lady of the Assumption Church, where she was a Eucharistic Minister, CCD teacher, lector and a member of the Our Lady of the Assumption Society and the St. Martin dePorres Guild.
Mrs. Grace was formerly employed as a teachers aide with the Boston Public School System for 15 years, and with the New Bedford Public School system for 4 years until her retirement. She was also a foster grandmother at the Joseph P. DeMello School in Dartmouth.
She enjoyed family gatherings, knitting, reading and baking.
Survivors include 3 sons, Peter M. Almeida and Thomas A. Grace, both of New Bedford and Stephen L. Grace and his wife Maria, of Raynham; 3 daughters, Carol A. Almeida-Fortes and her husband Theophilo M. "Tiffy" Fortes, Barbara J. Grace and Joy M. Grace-Medeiros, all of New Bedford; a stepson, Augustine Grace, Jr., of Maryland; a stepdaughter, Camille Baker of New Jersey; a sister, Mary "Lourdy" Houtman, and her husband Albert, of New Bedford; 5 grandchildren; a great-grandson; 2 great-great-grandsons; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was the mother of the late Marshall P. Almeida, mother-in-law of the late Claudia Grace and sister of the late Manuel "Sid" Rosario, Julia Livramento and Anna Cardoza.
Her Funeral will be held on Monday, March 30th at 8 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, followed by her Funeral Mass at Our Lady of the Assumption Church at 9 AM. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery. Visiting hours Sunday, March 29th 3-7 PM. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472 or Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 47 S 6th St., New Bedford, MA 02740.