Maria R. Papoula, 95, of Fall River, wife of the late Jose Papoula, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 in the comforts of her home following a brief illness. Born in Agua Retorta, St. Michael, Azores, she was a daughter of the late Manuel R. Marques and the late Honorina (Pereira) Marques.

Prior to her retirement she worked in the local textile industry for many years. She loved cooking, baking bread, sewing, crocheting, and knitting. But most notably, Maria had a "Heart of Gold" and was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who cherished the time she spent with all her family. She will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her.

She leaves her children, Joe M. Papoula and his wife, Irene, of Florida, Natalia Farias and her husband, Adelino, of Fall River, Eulalia Fortuna and her husband, Octavio, of Somerset, and Carl Papoula and his wife, Mary, of Florida; her ten grandchildren, Cyndi Couto, Kevin Papoula, Karl Papoula, Ashley Mathison, Bill Farias, Kelly Jorge, Scott Fortuna, Derek Fortuna, Chantell Ferreira,  and Zacary Scott; her fourteen great-grandchildren, Kylie Fortuna, Emily Fortuna, Mia Fortuna, Mikyle Couto, Owen Couto, Ava Couto, Roman Ferreira, Troy Ferreira, Gabriella Farias, Emma Farias, Olivia Jorge, Logan Mathison, Riley Mathison, and Lily Papoula; one brother, Gil Marques and his companion, Delores Nogueira, of Fall River; and many nieces and nephews. She was also the grandmother of the late Kristen Papoula and sister of the late Carlos Raposo, Cidaliza Amaral, and Manuel L. Marques.

Her Funeral Mass was celebrated on Monday, March 14th, in St. Anthony of Padua Church followed by her committal 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. 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!