Maria doCeu Antunes, 97, of Fall River, wife of the late Fernando Antunes, passed away peacefully at Fall River Health Care on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 after a long illness.

Born in Antas, Portugal, she was a daughter of the late Abilio and Ermelinda (Pereira) Ribeiro.

Prior to her retirement she worked as a seamstress in the local textile industry for many years. She loved cooking, coloring, embroidering, and her annual trips to her homeland to visit family. A devout Catholic, Maria faithfully attended Mass and prayed the rosary everyday. But what was most important to her was spending quality time with her loving family, especially her grandchildren.

She leaves: her children, Antonio Jose Antunes and his wife, Celeste, of Coimbra, Portugal, and Ermelinda A. Silva and her husband, Roger, of New Bedford; three grandchildren, Lara, Corvina, and Viorica; two great-grandchildren, Catarina and Carolina; sisters, Alice Cardoso and her husband, Jimmy, of Fall River, Aida Rodrigues, and Antonio Ribeiro and his wife, Leonor, both of Portugal; and several nephews and nieces, including Linda Camara who was very dear to Maria, and Linda's daughter, Courtney Camara, who Maria considered to be like a granddaughter.

The family would like to thank the staff at Fall River Health Care and Dr. Monteiro's office for their kindness they always showed to Maria.

Due to the Covid pandemic, Mrs. Antunes was laid to rest on Thursday, May 7th, with a private committal service at St. Patrick Cemetery in Fall River.

Family members are always grateful for relatives and friends wishing to make in-person expressions of kindness and support. But, because of this pandemic, all are urged to express sympathy online or by mail.

To ensure that said condolences 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!