Maria do Carmo de Melo Moreira Rodrigues, 88, of Fall River, wife of Jose C. Rodrigues, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her husband, children, and grandchildren, on Thursday, October 24, 2019 at Southpointe Nursing Home. Born in the village of Maia, Sao Miguel, Azores, Maria was the daughter of Alexandre de Melo and Maria Moreira.

In 1968, Maria emigrated to Fall River, following her husband, with her young family, to provide them with better educational and work opportunities. She was a selfless caregiver who put the needs of her family, neighbors and friends before her own. Tirelessly hardworking, she raised her four children and helped to raise her grandchildren, while also working at several jobs. With passionate determination, she taught herself to read and write English in order to pass the citizenship exam. She continued to take English classes and taught others to read and write at her work. A proud US citizen, Maria always voted, and kept up and informed us of current events around the world.

Maria was a seamstress at Bristol Knitting Mills until 1988. Never one to stop, she began working as a caregiver for people experiencing mental illness and homelessness, where she provided meals and loving care for many of the forgotten people in our society until her retirement in 2010 at the age of 79.

Maria was beloved by many at work and in her neighborhood. A loving wife, mother, grandmother, Maria loved to cook, sew and spend time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She often brought food and bread to family, friends and neighbors in need and was a regular member of St. Anthony of Padua Church. She loved listening with her husband to Raul Benevides and Frank Baptista on WHTB in Fall River and tending to her flowers. Most of all, Maria will be remembered for her grace, intelligence, compassion, service to others and love for her family.

Besides her husband, she is survived by: three siblings, Liduina Alves (late husband Jose Alves) of Fall River, Bernadette de Melo (husband Adelino de Melo) of Quebec, Canada, and Benilde Isidoro (husband Jeremiah Isidoro) of British Columbia; four children, Margaret Meisch  (husband Paul Meisch) of Valley Center, CA, Robert Rodrigues (wife Lisa Ann Rodrigues) of Tiverton, RI, Joseph Rodrigues of Fall River, and Edith Allard (husband Philip S. Allard) of New York City; nine grandchildren, Jill Rodrigues, Robert Rodrigues, Joseph Rodrigues, Patrick Meisch, Nichole Rodrigues, Angela Allard, Ryan Meisch, Charles Allard, and Cristina Meisch; two great grandchildren, Hannah and Holly Rodrigues, and many nieces and nephews. Maria was also the sister of the late Adelina de Melo, of Newark, NJ; Manuel Moreira de Melo of Maia, Sao Miguel, Azores, and Adelino Moreira de Melo of Maia, Sao Miguel, Azores.

Her Funeral Mass was celebrated on Tuesday, October 29th, in St. Anthony of Padua Church followed by her committal at Notre Dame Cemetery.