Obituary of MARIA ALICE PEREIRA COSTEIRA

MARIA ALICE PEREIRA COSTEIRA

Born: December 18, 1926

Date of Passing: July 24, 2019

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Maria Alice Costeira, age 92, beloved mother and devoted Avo (grandmother) on Wednesday afternoon July 24^th, 2019 at Middlechurch Personal Care Home. She will be forever remembered dearly by Rosa Odete, her only daughter, Jose, her favorite son-in-law, Sylvia, her only granddaughter and Jason, her grandson by marriage (husband of Sylvia). She will be sadly missed by her sister Otilia Tavares and her many nieces, nephews and most cherished family members and friends. Maria was predeceased by her husband Domingos Costeira, parents Rosa and Jose, two brothers Antonino and Fransico and two sisters Rosa and Maria.  

Born in Guilhovai, Ovar, Portugal, Mom/Avo worked very hard at an early age to provide for her family. She worked in the farmers’ fields and sold vegetables at the local town market. At the age of 22 she married Domingos and after 6 years of marriage Rosa Odete was born. Life was difficult in Portugal and she wanted so dearly for her daughter to have a better life. Rosa Odete moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1973 to be with Maria’s sister Otilia and family. Longing to be together, Maria and Domingos moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba to join Rosa and family and witness the marriage of her daughter to Jose. While in Winnipeg, Mom/Avo worked at a Garment Factory for a few years. Soon after, Sylvia her granddaughter was born and she stayed at home to care and help raise her. Mom/Avo has always been by our side and has always lived with us. She enjoyed family parties, gardening, traveling to Portugal, and spending the summers at the Portuguese Recreational Park and winters at dinners and events at the Portuguese Association of Manitoba. Mom/Avo has lived a great and meaningful life full of love, lots of music and loads of laughter. She will be dearly missed but never forgotten. We will forever hold you in our hearts and know that heaven just got a little brighter.   

Our family would like to give special thanks to the Home Care Workers who helped us care for Maria prior to her hospital stay, Olga, Adelaide, Anna Maria and Susana. We’d also like to thank the staff at Middlechurch Personal Care Home and the Seven Oaks Hospital staff on the 4^th floor, unit 7 which in the last months have helped to care for her.

Prayers in memory of Maria will be held on Wednesday, July 31, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Parish, 181 Austin St. N, Winnipeg. Interment to follow in her hometown of Guilhovai, Ovar, Portugal.