Maria C. (De Melo) De Jesus, age 76, passed away on February 24, 2009 at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River. She was the widow of Natalino De Jesus. Born in the village of Ribeira Grande o the island of St. Michael in the Azores, she was the daughter of the late Raimundo De Melo and the late Olivia (Branco) De Melo. After residing in the Azores for thirty eight years, she moved to Fall River in 1971. In addition to keeping the home and raising her children, she was the co-owner of Silva's Package Store on Bedford Street, in Fall River, with her late husband Natalino. Maria was a parishioner of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Fall River. Surviving family members include seven children; Mrs. Carlos (Manuela) Couto of Fall River, Joseph De Jesus and his wife Lucy of Fall River, Mrs. Viriato (Luisa) Carreiro of Fall River, Mrs. Luis (Helena) Cabral of Westport, MA, Alice De Jesus of Fall River, Natalino De Jesus and his wife Margaret of Dartmouth, MA, and Mrs. Rui (Katherine) Batista of Fall River, a brother, Manuel Melo of Canada, fourteen grandchildren; Richard & Christopher Araujo, Tanya Benevides, Steve Couto, Michael & Karen Carreiro, Diane Aragao, Rachel & Jennifer Sobreiro, Aaron & Shawn Jesus, Natasha De Jesus, Nathan & Luke Batista, five great grandchildren; Serena & Marcel Aragao, Evan & Aiden Carreiro, and Logan Raposa, a niece, Conceicao Melo, and two nephews, Carlos & Eduardo Melo. She was also the mother of the late Luis De Jesus. Her funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Anthony of Padua Church. Pallbearers Vic Carreiro, Luis Cabral, Rui Batista, Michael Carreiro, Richard Araujo and Kevin Aragao brought Maria to her final resting place at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Fall River.