Maria (Pereira) Afonso, 94, of Fall River, wife of the late Belmiro Afonso, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at Southpointe Nursing Home following a long illness. Born in Agua de Pau, St. Michael, Azores she was a daughter of the late Eugenio Pereira and the late Diamantina (Porto) Pereira.

Prior to her retirement she worked as a sewing machine operator in the local textile industry for many years. She loved cooking, sewing, and, most importantly, spending quality time with all her family. A content and kind woman, Maria will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her.

She leaves her three daughters, Diamantina Botelho (late husband, Silvino), Amelia Furtado (late husband, Manuel), both of Fall River, and Mary Lou Afonso, of Somerset; her four sons, Belmiro Afonso, Jr. and his wife, Ana, of Fall River, Fernando Afonso and his wife, Theresa, of Bristol, Rhode Island, Roberto Afonso and his wife,  Carrie, of Fall River, and Jose Afonso and his wife, Mary Jane, of North Dartmouth; twelve grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren;  one sister, Germina Pacheco (late husband, Manuel) of  Fall River; her brother, Fernando Pereira of the Azores; and many nieces and nephews. She was also the mother of the late Duarte Afonso,  grandmother of the late David Botelho, and sister of many late siblings.

Her Funeral Mass was celebrated on Monday, February 6th, in Holy Trinity Parish Church at followed by her committal at Notre Dame Cemetery.

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!