Alzira Marguerida (Machado) Souza, one of the last Portuguese residents of the Borough, died Tuesday, February 7, at the age of 86. Born in New Bedford on May 24, 1919, Mrs. Souza, moved to Stonington at the age of 22 months and spent the test of her life “south of the cannons” in the Portuguese enclave that was Stonington Borough.
She was the widow of Benjamin Souza whom she married on July 19, 1941, at St. Mary’s Church in Stonington. She would frequently recall that her wedding reception was one of the first held at the old Sea Village Inn.
During WWII, while Mr. Souza was in Germany, Mrs. Souza, along with her father, Joao Faria Machado and her uncle, Jose M. Faria, long time Borough Warden, worked in the Atwood Machine Company. After the war, she worked briefly in the American Velvet Company with her mother Maria doCarmo (Soares) Machado. Later, she was employed as a domestic and cook for the Rensellaer Bartram Family while raising her family, but never finding a need to learn to drive. Shortly after her aunt Maria Augusta Faria died in 1966, she retired to be able to provide full time care to her mom who was fully bedridden from 1972-1980.
Mrs. Souza was an active member of the community and could be found at nearly all social events at St. Mary’s Church. She and long time neighbor and friend, Alvida Garity, were interviewed by the Stonington Intelligencer several years ago in a piece which recalled the old world Catholic environment of growing up in 1920’s Stonington. It also featured memories of the 1938 Hurricane which decimated the village. Her memories of the Depression almost always suggested that it was a difficult time which nonetheless strengthened intelligence, responsibility and strength of character. Likewise, she enjoyed the Village Fair and the festivals of the Borough, calling those, “the good times.”
Mrs. Souza was an early member of the Portuguese Holy Ghost Society, and her father was one of the original founders of the organization. She was also a member of the Lady of Fatima Society and faithfully participated in their celebrations. She had been active in senior events and regularly went to luncheons at the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center, the Stonington COMO, and Pleasant Valley Baptist Church.
As a lifelong resident of the “Point”, she could often be found visiting Louise Pittaway at the Old Lighthouse Museum and loved sitting by the water at duBois Beach where she and Mr. Souza could often be found recalling good times with old friends. Likewise, she almost always had a beloved pet dog as a companion who protected her and her beloved house where the back door was never locked and friends were always welcomed to sit on the back porch and visit.
One of Mrs. Souza’s greatest fears, that the entire point would burn down, almost became a reality when the Monsanto Fire took place on July 3, 2003,. Nonetheless, as she was evacuating (under protest), she was able to direct rescuers to the homes of neighbors even more in need of rescue as her nature was to look out for those around her. She always appreciated the efforts of the Borough Fire Fighters, and had she grown up in a different generation, she might have been the Borough’s first female firefighter. She had all the call numbers memorized, and if the alarm went off near anyone she knew, she called to make sure they were alright or ran to the fire, often getting there before the trucks.
She will be missed by sons Dennis and Frederick Souza and daughter-in-law Nancy in whom she took great pride. She loved her granddaughters, Allison and Bryn Souza, and was influential in their upbringing, taking them to the bus every day and participating in band and school events while they were growing up.
On Thanksgiving, she was telling stories to Allison and her fiancé Dan Hasson and to Bryn and her boyfriend Bill Nowell whom she loved to instruct in the ways of being Portuguese. Even at the time of her death, she was comforted by close friends Paula Malboeuf, and Mary and Juliet Pont. Alzira is also suvived by three godchildren, Emelia Vieira of New Bedford, Cecilia Rodreguez of Oakdale, and Rosemary Pokorski of Stonington, and several cousins. She is also survived by sisters-in-law Ethel Souza and Stella Reay, and brother-in-law, Louis Souza. Among her closest friends and neighbors, she often spent time visiting with Bernadine Shea who introduced her to the “new comers” in town.
Her family will greet relatives and friends at The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Historic downtown Mystic on Friday from 9:30-10;30am. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary Church, Stonington at 11am. Interment will follow in Stonington Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be sent to the Portuguese Holy Ghost Society Scholarship Fund, 26 Main Street, Stonington CT 06378.
To send an online condolence/remembrance to her family, please click the link below.