Obituary of MARIA ISABEL DA COSTA

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our dear mother, grandmother and great-grandmother Maria Isabel Da Costa on Sunday, September22, 2024 at St. Boniface Hospital.  Maria leaves behind her daughter Dina (Jeremy), grandchildren Selena (Jeff) and Nathanial; 4 great-grandchildren, Aiden, Scarlet, Lexie and Tobias.  Besides her immediate family Maria leaves behind her sisters in law Lucia Cabral and Fernanda Cabral, nieces, nephews and godchildren across Canada, Portugal and one in Italy.  She was predeceased by her husband Manuel Da Costa, parents Agostinho Medeiros Cabral and Maria Do Carmo Vieira, brothers Manuel, Fernando, Agostinho (Maria), Jose (Valdomira) and sister Maria (Manuel).

Maria was born in Arrifes, Sao Miguel Azores on December 9, 1938.  She married the love of her life Manuel on February 1, 1959 and shortly after followed him to Winnipeg to start their new life. Arriving in Canada she worked in the garment industry with many friends from back home; they all became lifelong friends and were always going for outings on the weekends together.  She stopped working in 1973 when Manuel and her adopted their daughter Dina Isabel, who was the apple of their eyes.  Maria was an excellent cook and baker and could always be found singing church hymns whenever she was cooking or doing her daily chores.  She was involved in the Portuguese community, especially the church; she enjoyed seeing the community grow as more people arrived from Portugal.  She was a very religious person, always praying and reading religious books and in her later years, never without her rosary around her hand.  Her room at the home could be found filled with religious statues, prayer cards, and rosaries all over the wall.  She looked after her husband until his passing; losing him was hard as he was her best friend.  She stayed on her own until she could no longer look after herself.  She moved into the Maples Personal Care Home on Mandalay and had been a resident for 6 years before her passing.  At the home she was loved by all, she was always smiling and cheery and teaching all the staff Portuguese words..... they will always remember her for calling them all "Querida" and they learnt to call her it back..

Her family wishes to thank her friends and family that visited with Maria, her Goddaughter Emilia who has been a constant companion to Maria in her recent years, her Godsons who visited often, her prayer group who got together every Monday at the home, to all the staff at the Maples Home and the Staff at St. Boniface Hospital ICU.

Funeral Liturgy will be held on Friday, September 27, 2024 with viewing at 11:30 p.m. and mass at 12:00 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, 181 Austin Street North, followed by burial at Assumption Cemetery, 3990 Portage Avenue.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to CancerCare Manitboa

DESCANSE EM PAZ