Madeline A. Ricardo, 96, of Fall River, widow of Jose Ricardo, passed away on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at home surrounded by family. Born "Maria Madalena" in Povoacao, St. Michael, Azores, a daughter of the late Vasco J. Araujo and the late Mariana C. (Cardoso) Araujo, she emigrated to Fall River in 1951, and lived in Dighton for 14 years before returning to Fall River recently.

Employed as a seamstress in the local garment and textile industry for many years prior to her retirement in the mid-1980s, Madeline was also a member of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU, now UNITE). Her sewing talent was beyond compare, making her daughter's wedding dress and prom dresses for her granddaughters. Madeline's excellent cooking & baking skills were also well known throughout her neighborhood, and she delighted in making the favorite dish of each family member and friend.

She is survived by: three children, Anne Wicks of Fall River, Joseph Ricardo (wife Cheryl) of Orlando, FL, and Susan Furtado of N. Dighton; four siblings, Giselda Oliveira of St. Michael, Azores, Juvenalia DaSilva of Fall River, Joseph Araujo of Tiverton, RI, and Goretti Balch of Fall River; eight grandchildren, Erica, Melissa, Jonathan, Joseph Jr., Nathaniel, Thomas, Alexandra, and Jacob; two great grandchildren, J.T. and Charlotte; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by three siblings, Maria Margarida Araujo, Daniel Araujo, and Silvino Araujo.

Her Funeral Mass was celebrated on Tuesday, February 21st, in St. Joseph Church followed by a private cremation. Her cremains were entombed with her late husband on Friday, March 10th, following a private committal service at the Notre Dame Cemetery Mausoleum in Fall River. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Maria's memory to either St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; 800-805-5856; https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html or The Salvation Army Fall River, 290 Bedford St, Fall River, MA 02722; 508-679-7900; Donate to The Salvation Army Massachusetts Division Fall River Corps .

Family members are always grateful for relatives and friends wishing to make in-person expressions of kindness and support. If you were unable to do so, because of this pandemic or any other reason, all are urged to express their sympathy online or by mail. To ensure that said condolences and/or sympathy cards reach the family, please always make sure that submissions online are made directly through the funeral home's website ( www.silvafaria.com ) and not through a third party. Thank you!