Maria “da Grota” Conceicao (Pereira) Medeiros, wife of the late Antonio Fernandes Vigario, died peacefully surrounded by her loving family at Morton Hospital on March 27, 2009, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s.
She was 94.
Residing at Longmeadow of Taunton since 2001, she was a Taunton resident since 1971.
Born on June 8, 1914 in Faial da Terra, St. Michael, Azores, she was the daughter of the late José Antao Pereira and Maria André Resendes.
A homemaker all of her life, her interests included crocheting, sewing, and gardening.
She enjoyed being surrounded by her family, and had an incredible love for children, having helped raised many throughout her life.
A communicant of St. Anthony Church, she often prayed, and had a deep and profound faith in God.
She was famous for baking Portuguese sweet bread and malasadas.
She leaves a daughter, Maria C. Melo of Taunton; a grandson, Robert DeMello of Rehoboth; 5 granddaughters, Grace Miranda, Iberia Resendes, Humberta Faria, Odette Borges and Diane DeMelo, all of Taunton; 12 great-grandchildren, Shawn, Kristin, Jason, Jennifer, Laurin, Joshua, Jessica, Nicholas, Jacob, Courtney, Kayla and Kelsey; 2 great-great grandchildren, Kianna and Collin; 3 sisters, Rosalina Vigario of MD, Maria Dias of E. Providence, and Filomena Simas of St. Michael; a brother, José Pereira of Toronto; and 3 generations of nieces and nephews.
She was the sister of the late Antonio and Manuel Pereira and Madalena André as well as Hortensca, Silvana and José, who died in infancy.
She was the mother-in-law of the late Angelo “Capitao” Pereira Melo.
Her funeral will be held from the Silva Funeral Home, 80 Broadway on Monday, March 30th at 8 a.m., followed by a funeral mass at St. Anthony’s Church at 9 a.m.
Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend.
Calling Hours will be held on Sunday, March 29th from 4 to 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, and to honor her love of all things nature, memorials in her name may be made to the MA Audubon Society, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 or to the charity of one’s choice.
www.silvafuneralhome.com.