LOWELL—Maria Elisa (Furtado-Resendes) Mendonca, 92 years old, died Friday evening, December 24th, at Saints Memorial Medical Center, after a long illness. She was the wife of the late Manuel Viera Mendonca, who died in 1974.
She was born in Ribeira das Tainhas, Sao Miguel, Azores Islands of Portugal, on June 22, 1912, a daughter of the late Jose Furtado Laurencio and Maria da Gloria Tavares Resendes. She received her education in the Azores.
In 1958, she relocated to the United States, settling in Lowell with her husband and their five children. She had been employed for many years by the BASF Corporation, in Bedford, MA, retiring in 1977. She enjoyed knitting and crocheting as well as caring for her love-doves which she regarded as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. For most of her lifetime in the United States, she dedicated herself to the preparation of care packages, containing clothing and food items, to be sent to the poor residing in the Azores.
Mrs. Mendonca was a communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church and St. Anthony's Church held membership in the Holy Rosary Sodality of the Immaculate parish, the League of Catholic Women, and the Lowell Senior Center. She was also a life member of the Portuguese Holy Ghost Society and Trinity Society.
Surviving her are four sons and two daughters-in-law: Manuel F. and Georgette Mendonca; Joseph G. and Maria Fatima Mendonca; John G. Mendonca, and Anthony E. Mendonca, a Lawrence Mail Carrier, all of Lowell; fifteen grandchildren: Gloria Silva Gamache, of Tyngsboro; Michael and Elisa Silva, of Lawrence; Robert Silva, of Nashua, NH; Daniel and Manuel Mendonca, both of Lowell; James Mendonca, of Deerfield, NH; Jason Mendonca, of Pelham, NH; Suzette M. Singster, of Derry, NH; Edward Mendonca, of Salem; Debora M. Cote, of Nashua, NH; John Mendonca, of Goose Creek, SC; Anthony Mendonca, of Lowell; Susanne Denehy, of Billerica; and Judy Gonzalez, of Lowell; also seventeen great-grandchildren; a brother: Urbano Furtado Laurencio, of Lowell.
She was the mother of the late Maria de Estrela Silva, who died in 1988, and the sister of the late Jose Furtado Resendes and Felicidade Resendes.
Friends may call from 4 until 8 PM on Tuesday, December 28th, at the MAHONEY FUNERAL HOME, 187 Nesmith Street, (Rte. 38). Her Funeral Mass will be offered Wednesday, December 29th, at 10 AM at the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH, Lowell. Burial in St. Patrick Cemetery, Lowell. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Saint Vincent de Paul Society; Immaculate Conception Church; 3 Fayette Street; Lowell, MA 01852.