Maria J. Bernardo, 86, of Fall River and wife of the late Jose P. Bernardo, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 4, 2021 at Catholic Memorial Home after a long illness. Born in Pico da Pedra, St. Michael, Azores, she was a daughter of the late Jose Patricio and the late Belmira Conceicao (Santos) Patricio.

Prior to her retirement, she was a sewing machine operator at Shelburne Shirt (now New England Shirt) for many years. She loved cooking, baking, puzzles, crocheting, and knitting with her circle of friends on a weekly basis. She also very much enjoyed going out for coffee with her devoted daughter, Mary. But what was most important to Maria was spending quality time with all her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom she very much adored.

She leaves: her loving children, Joseph F. Bernardo and his wife, Laura, of Swansea, Manuel A. Bernardo and his wife, Nicole, of Fall River, John C. Bernardo and his wife, Vivian, of New Hampshire, Mary Vasconcelos and her husband, Joseph, of Fall River; thirteen grandchildren, Priscilla Bergeron and her husband, Philip, Dr. Veronica Bernardo, Steven Vasconcelos  and his wife, Meg, Kevin Bernardo, Cassandra Bernardo, Jonathan Moniz, Vanessa Vasconcelos and her fiancé, Anthony, Keith Bernardo and his wife, Erin, Brooke Aguiar and her husband, Mathew, Benjamin Bernardo, Daniel Bernardo, Michael Bernardo, and Theodore Santos; her six great-grandchildren, Liam P. Bergeron, Charlotte M. Bergeron, Quinn R. Bernardo, Finley H. Bernardo, Kaia Moniz, and Jude Moniz; two sisters, Isaura Martins and her husband, Guilherme, and Esprezes Oliveira (late husband, Manuel), both of Canada; and many nieces and nephews.

Her Funeral Mass was celebrated on Wednesday, October 13th, in St. Anthony of Padua Church followed by her committal at St. Patrick Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Maria's memory to: The American Heart Association, One State Street, Suite 200, Providence, Rhode Island, 02908.

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!