We Remember

MACHADO, Maria

May 16, 1929 — July 7, 2022

It is with heavy hearts that the family of Maria de Jesus Machado announces her passing.

Mom was born in Corregacho, Malhadal, Portugal, and lived there until she moved to Évora, Portugal. It was in Évora that she met and married Antonio Machado who was posted in the city while completing his military service.

Mom and Dad moved to India when Dad was posted there and that is where their first daughter Rosa was born. Three short months later Mom and Rosa had to return to Portugal without Dad due to the conflict for independence. They moved to Talhinhas to live with Dad’s family until his return to Portugal several months later; shortly thereafter the growing family moved to Mozambique where he was posted as a customs officer.

Mom and Dad lost a daughter named Helena after arriving in Lourenco Marques, now known as Maputo. Two years later they had a third daughter Paula and after Dad was transferred to Beira they had two sons, Pedro and Carlos. Dad’s parents joined the family in Beira for a period of time where Mom cared for our grandmother until her passing shortly after Carlos was born.

About two years later the family moved once again this time to Zobue on the border with Malawi, where we lived for about four years before going to Portugal in December 1973 for an extended holiday. Due to the Carnation Revolution in April of 1974, only Dad returned to Mozambique in the fall of 1974. Mom and the kids moved to Mom’s home town and she ensured we adapted to a new environment that was very different from what we were used to – for example, there was no running water or electricity.

The loss of most of our personal belongings and assets in Mozambique was a deep blow to both our parents but together they built a new life for us all that for a time included living with Mom’s brother Manuel and his family who has also been forced to leave Angola. The family next moved to Termas de Monfortinho on the border with Spain and where the three oldest kids had to go to boarding school in another town as there was no school beyond grade 4 in the resort town. Very tough on all of us to adapt to being apart but especially tough for Mom – it helped that she still had Carlos at home. Eventually, Mom and Dad made the difficult decision to move the family to Canada to provide us with better opportunities.

This move was fraught with challenges – a new country, language, and culture…not an easy feat but Mom appeared to us mostly unflappable throughout this period of time. The move also reunited Mom with her sisters Belmira (Jack) and Carma (Xico), as well as their oldest brother Joe (Maria) and we benefited from getting to know them as well as our cousins.

Although Mom always felt hemmed in by the narrow Similkameen valley and did not love living in a rural area when she had lived most of her adult life in an urban setting, she made the best of it. Mom always encouraged us to reach for the stars even though she knew it would likely mean that we would move away.

After Mom and Dad retired from running an orchard with Rosa and Armindo, they moved to Keremeos where they lived until 2020. Moving to Kelowna was supposed to afford them the opportunity to have more family time however Covid-19 made their last two years difficult as it did for so many.

Over the years, Mom and Dad travelled back to Portugal a number of times and took side trips to the Azores and Spain. They also went to Brasil to visit Dad’s sisters Eliza and Luzia, brother Domingos, and Mom’s step-brothers Libano, Armindo, and their respective families. Mom and Dad also travelled twice to Thunder Bay, Ontario to visit their son-in-law Jeff’s parents Barb and Joe Otto, his brothers Greg (Eva) Otto, Bob (Karen) Otto, sister Maureen (Trevor) Daley, their respective children Meghan, Hoyt, Ashley (Dennis) McIver, Melissa, Joseph, Hillary and Adam, and Jeff’s extended family.

Mom was a loving mother and wife and became a wonderful Avó to Miguel, Karina, Ryan, Alex, Kevin, Diego, and Remy and eventually a very proud Bisavó to Linden, Lucas, Ava Lopes, Jackson, and Cristiano Cavanaugh.

Mom was a quiet but bright light who did not often voice her opinion publicly but she also had nerves of steel and was a loyal friend to those who were lucky enough to earn her trust over the years.

Mom took great pleasure in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren – in short Mom’s family was everything to her and she often asked after the “pequeninos“ (little ones). Dad, her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her faith were a continuous source of joy, strength and at times annoyance – “chata” became an often used adjective to describe some of us!

She was challenged by diabetes, the eventual almost complete loss of her sight, the onset of dementia, and a recent stroke, yet she remained our rock and was witty to the end even as she struggled to keep the “thread” straight.

Mom is survived by her husband of nearly 62 years, Antonio; her children Rosa (Armindo) Lopes, Paula (Jeff) Otto, Pedro (Angie), and Carlos (Lorraine) Machado; her grandchildren Miguel (Lindsay) Lopes, Karina (Chris) Cavanaugh, Ryan (Earl) Lopes-Ward, Alex (Monica) Lopes, Kevin Machado, Diego and Remy Machado; great-grandchildren Linden, Lucas and Ava Lopes, Jackson and Cristiano Cavanaugh; as well as Mom’s sister Maria de Jose (Alfredo) in Portugal, step-brothers in Brasil, Portugal and Canada; as well as many nieces and nephews in Portugal, Brasil and Canada.

Mom is predeceased by her parents; step-mother; in-laws; brothers Joe, and Manuel (Felizarda); sisters Belmira (Jack), and Carma; step-brothers Antonio, and Arturo; nephews Albino and Luis; and her beloved infant daughter Helena.
Mom will be sorely missed by us all but we are forever grateful to have had her love and support to guide us until now.

As Mom would say, “Boa noite e até amanhã se Deus quiser”.

Descance em paz, fica sempre no nosso coração.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, July 15, 2022, at 1:00 pm, at Springfield Funeral Home, 2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC. Reception to follow. If you are unable to attend in person, please join the family online by Livestream at the time of the service (see link below), or a recording will be made available to view shortly thereafter. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations made in Maria’s name to Diabetes Canada, www.diabetes.ca.

Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.springfieldfuneralhome.com (click the direct link below)

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, July 15, 2022, at 1:00 pm, at Springfield Funeral Home, 2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC. Reception to follow.  If you are unable to attend in person, please join the family online by Livestream at the time of the service (see below), or a recording will be made available to view shortly thereafter. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations made in Maria’s name to Diabetes Canada.

If you wish to send a condolence, post photos, or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Condolences”.

LIVESTREAM:

Service
Friday, July 15, 2022, at 1:00 pm

Location
SPRINGFIELD FUNERAL HOME

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 Diabetes Canada Link: www.diabetes.ca

 


Service Information

Service Details


The service for MACHADO, Maria is scheduled for Friday, July 15, 2022, at 1:00 pm. Below you will find the map for the service location and the contact information should you have any questions.

Address & Contact for Service Location:

SPRINGFIELD FUNERAL HOME

2020 Springfield Road Kelowna, BC

Phone:

Special Requests:

None.

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Condolences

  • Greg and Eva Otto says:
    July 13, 2022 at 4:15 pm

    We have so many funny and delicious memories of time spent with Maria. Road trips from Provençal E. Nova with Paula and Jeff all over Portugal. Bug infested summer at Iron Range Lake (darn Moskas) and time spent at Keremeos with the whole family. Maria’s cod cakes were the best and she cooked a mean pot of kale! We so enjoyed every day spent with her. We will think of her often. Condolences to all of her loved ones. We send our love. Greg and Eva Otto

    Reply
  • Maureen and Trevor Daley says:
    July 14, 2022 at 6:36 am

    Sending our condolences to your family and friends during this difficult time may the memories be cherished and forever be in your heart thinking of you all you are in our thoughts and prayers

    Reply
  • Charlene Rousseau says:
    July 14, 2022 at 6:50 am

    Dear Paula, Jeff and family,
    We are so very sorry for your loss. Know that you are in our hearts thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
    Love, Luc and Charlene

    Reply
  • Hillary Daley says:
    July 14, 2022 at 9:45 am

    My heart is with you in this difficult time ! Sending you big hugs and kisses from Ontario ❤️

    Reply

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Everything was so organized and pertinent to what we needed. Everyone we met was kind, courteous and very helpful during our emotional and challenging time. Thank you so much.

Heather Mayne

They were so prompt on answering any questions and changing things. They were prepared and respected any religious decisions. The process was so seamless and made easy in such a high stress situation.

Tanya Kohar

In the past 2 years Springfield has helped us through the death of my Mother and my Father. Their response and help allowed us to focus on the remaining family rather than worrying about details of the funeral and all the notifications that are required upon a death.

Terry Eldridge

The atmosphere has been nothing but professional during times of grief.  After the passing of my mother, the staff coached me on the next steps and looked after filling in all the government forms that I needed to sign, which took a huge burden off my mind at the time.

Donald McClure

Everyone was so helpful and kind.  There was no pressure.  They provided exactly what we needed.

Diane Greenwood

From the time I called to the completion of all the services, I received compassionate, attentive and professional care.  There was a sense of caring from each staff member.  I was turning over my Mom to their care and I felt very comfortable with everyone.  I felt heard and never felt pushed into any decision.

Katherine Lewis

I have always found the team at Springfield Funeral Home to be VERY caring, kind, considerate and helpful.  I have and will continue to recommend them to anyone who asks which funeral home would I suggest they use.  No other funeral home I have dealt with even comes close to Springfield Funeral Home.

Ethna Tutt

Right at the onset, I was made very comfortable, there was no pressure.  I was made to feel as if I was the only one they had to serve.

Frances Baum

Everything that was arranged for us was perfect.  Our loved one, husband, father, brother was treated with respect.  Thank you for making this difficult time a little more acceptable via your staff’s obvious caring and respect.

Jacquelene Bluschke