Maria Goretti (Silva) Martins, 67, of Methuen, passed away on Monday, February 26 at High Pointe Hospice House after a courageous and lengthy battle with cancer with her family at her side. She was the beloved wife of Jose Duarte Martins for the past 41 years.
She was born on August 22, 1956 in Sao Miguel, Azores, Portugal, and came to the United States in 1970. She originally settled in the Cambridge/Somerville area and was a graduate of Somerville High School. After high school she worked in a curtain factory in Cambridge and eventually met her husband, Jose Duarte, and they married in 1982. She eventually found her career as a Scheduler with Hewlett Packard and Agilent/Philips where she spent 45 years.
A devout and faithful catholic, she was a longtime parishioner of St. Anthony Parish in Cambridge and St. Anthony Parish in Lowell. She was also a devoted member of Império das Crianças in Cambridge for 22 years and loved spending time at any of the various Portuguese feasts held throughout New England.
Goretti adored embarking on adventures alongside her husband, relishing road trips, capturing cherished moments through photos and videos of her family, savoring moments with her loved ones. The beach, especially Salisbury State Park, held a special place in her heart. Her ever-present smile, laughter, warmth, friendliness, outgoing personality, and everlasting happiness defined who she was.
Besides her husband, Jose Duarte, she is survived by her siblings, Maria Jose Sousa of Billerica, Luzia Sousa of Haverhill, Victor Caetano of Canada, her sisters in law, Lucia Fagundes and her husband, Horacio, of Somerville and Carminha Caetano of Methuen. She is also survived by her many nieces and nephews including Christine Caetano of Bedford, Dennis Sousa of Billerica, Jeffrey Sousa and his wife, Shauna, of Billerica, Jessica Sousa of Haverhill, Richard Caetano and his wife, Michelle, of Canada, Jennifer Head and her husband, Jason, of Canada, her grand nieces and grand nephews, Ryan and Kyle McGrath, Michael and Matthew Head, Aiden Caetano, Alexander Garcia, Julianna, Kayla, Brianna and Isla Sousa, and additionally is also survived by many cousins and countless friends.
She was a sister of the late Carlos Caetano and sister in law of the late Alfredo Sousa.
On Sunday, March 3, 2024 all are welcome to attend her calling hours from 4-8 p.m. at McDonough Funeral Home, 14 Highland Street, Lowell 978-458-6816.
Her funeral will begin on Monday, March 4, 2024 at 9 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by her funeral mass at 10 a.m. at St. Anthony Church, 893 Central Street, Lowell. Burial will take place at Elmwood Cemetery in Methuen.
Please consider a memorial donation in her name to Império das Crianças, 38 Bartlett Street Somerville, MA 02145 or Friends of Dana-Farber, 450 Brookline Ave., SW120, Boston, MA 02215.