Maria Susan (Meunier) Ventura passed away in the early morning hours of December 19, 2020. She passed quietly and without fuss, which is very much in character for Maria. She was 101 years old. Everyone who knew Maria loved her as she was the epitome of soft spoken gentle kindness and generous self-sacrifice. A trusted friend to her own children and a trusted confidant to her grandchildren, she was the hub that held her far-flung family together and the magnet that pulled us all back to her again and again. Setting the best example one last time, Maria faced death with wisdom and courage and even a bit of impatience; as her body and her faculties lost their strength, her mind remained sharp and she knew there was no way forward in life, so she fully embraced and accepted its end. In happier times, Maria thoroughly enjoyed her decades working as a librarian at the Raynham Public Library, where she met her life-long best friend, children’s librarian Ellen Ranney, who was the last person to comfort her in life. Maria was an avid reader of fiction and loved good music, especially the songs of Kris Kristofferson and George Jones. And she loved a good card game, often hosting games for her many good friends at Rocky Knoll Estates. Sadly, her husband, Joseph F. Ventura, pre-deceased her, as did her eldest son, Joseph F. Ventura Jr., her only daughter, Jean (Ventura) Norton, and her granddaughter, Kristine Norton. Among the living, she leaves behind one son, Steven Ventura, and his wife, Susan (Scully) Ventura, six grandchildren - Joseph F. Ventura III, Thomas Ventura, Kerry (Norton) Gray, Michael B. Norton, Nathan Ventura and Maria J. Ventura - and several great grandchildren. Visitation and funeral services will be held at O’Keefe-Wade Funeral Home, 70 Washington Street, Taunton, MA, starting at 10am on Monday, December 28th and a funeral home service at 11am.. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations in Maria Ventura’s name to the Raynham Public Library, 760 South Main Street, Raynham, MA, 02767.