Maria Pires

Maria dos Anjos Nunes Pires passed away surrounded by her family on August 18, 2023 at the age of 94.

She was born on August 16, 1929 in Prados, Portugal to Jose Esteves Rei Pires (father) and Benvida do Céu Nunes (mother) and was one of 16 siblings. She married Jose Gregorio de Abreu on April 5, 1956 and the two were married for 5 years, with their two daughters, until his untimely passing in 1961. Maria dos Anjos never remarried. During her beautiful life in Portugal, Maria dos Anjos and her family were farmers. She always loved sharing stories of making homemade cheeses, breads, and the songs she would sing as they worked during the long, hard days on the farmland. Maria dos Anjos left her beloved homeland and came to the United States in 1969, where she raised her two daughters while navigating the challenges of a new country and without knowing the language, worked hard to provide more opportunities for them and generations to come. She always said, if it was not for her courage, she would not have made it through the difficult times life threw her way. She is known by many for her strength, kindness, contagious smile, and spunk. She was not afraid to speak her mind, and love hard. She poured her soul into her family and spread joy wherever she went, leaving a mark on every heart she touched. Maria dos Anjos loved spending her time praying the Rosary, sharing stories of her childhood, reciting Portuguese anecdotes, and baking her famous Portuguese desserts; pudim, pão com carne, biscoitos, and felhóses.

Maria dos Anjos is survived by her younger brother Francisco, her beloved daughters Rosa Maria Pereira (Duarte) and Maria da Conceição Raimundo (Carlos). She was a cherished grandmother (Avó) to her 5 grandchildren, Christopher, Paul, Andrew (Kimberly), Cristina (Glenn), and Kimberly (Robbie), and great-grandmother (Bisavó) to her 3 great-grandchildren, Peyton, Ava, and Landon, all of whom she loved dearly.

Maria dos Anjos leaves behind a legacy of courage, strength, and love. She will be eternally missed and forever in our hearts. As she would always say: “Good luck, everything. I love everybody.”

Relatives and friends are invited to her Funeral Mass on Thursday, August 24, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at St. David RC Church, 316 Easton Road, Willow Grove PA 19090. Viewing in church from 9:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Interment will follow in St. John Neumann Cemetery, 3797 County Line Rd, Chalfont, PA 18914.

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