Maria Fatima Amaral, 65, of New Bedford, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 22, 2023.
Born in São Pedro, Azores, daughter of the late Jose Amaral and Lidia (Camara) Amaral, she moved to New Bedford at the age of 15 and lived there most of her life.
Maria was a loving grandmother and mother. She enjoyed cooking and baking with her family. She was a personable woman with a big smile who loved to talk and make new friends. Maria enjoyed summer and being outdoors. She was a hard working woman who put her kids and grandkids first. Maria was a devout Catholic.
Survivors include her children, Carla Marie Garcia of New Bedford, Donny Garcia of New Bedford, and Megan Leigh Correia and her partner Lawrence Paradise, Jr., of New Bedford; her siblings, Sara Silva, Ana Amaral, Lidia Amaral, Jose Amaral, Alfredo Amaral, and Natalia Conley; her former son-in-law Paul Medeiros; and her grandchildren, Paul Roberto Medeiros, Ayvah Leigh Medeiros, Jace Donovan Medeiros, Lorenzo Carl Garcia, Isaac Dean Paradise and Emmett Dean Paradise; and many nieces and nephews.
She is predeceased by her sister Manuela Lopes.
Maria's Funeral will be held on Friday, December 29, 2023 at 9:00 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, with her Funeral Mass being celebrated at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church at 10 AM. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Dartmouth. Visitation will be Thursday from 5-8 PM.