Maria S. (Nunes) Mota, 54, of Lowell, passed away Wednesday, June 21, 2017, after a long illness in the comfort of her home with her close friends and family at her side. She was the beloved wife of Jorge Mota, with whom she would have celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary this coming September.
A daughter of Olivia (Bettencourt) Nunes of Peabody and the late Eduino Nunes, she was born November 2, 1962, in Graciosa, Azores, Portugal, and came to the United States at the age of eleven months old with her family, settling in Peabody where she was raised and educated. In 1981, she married the love of her life, Jorge, and moved to Lowell to begin their married lives together and to raise a family.
Maria made her home in the Highlands Section of the City, and was a devoted member of St. Anthony’s Parish. She was a member of the Holy Ghost Society as well as the Portuguese American Center ‘the Blues Club’ and the Portuguese American Civic League, ‘the Reds Club’. She loved dancing, shopping, and traveling, especially to Lisbon, Portugal with her husband. She loved to spend time with family and friends in particular her beloved grandchildren. She will be fondly remembered as ‘the life of the party’.
She was employed as a group leader by Zoll Medical in Chelmsford for more than thirteen years, until illness forced her retirement.
Besides her loving husband, Jorge, she is survived by her daughter, Jessica M. Leal and her husband, Roberto, of Tewksbury, and her son, Michael C. Mota of Lowell; her grandchildren, Aidan, Lilyanna, Nathan, and Luis Leal all of Tewksbury; her brothers and sister, Manuel Nunes and his wife, Fatima, of Peabody, Durvalina Alves of Peabody, Joe Nunes and his wife, Lynne Black, of Peabody, Elizabeth Silva and her husband, Antonio, of Peabody, and Lisa Azevedo of Peabody; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
In addition to her father, Eduino, she was predeceased by many aunts and uncles.
YOU ARE INVITED TO HER CALLING HOURS 2 UNTIL 6 P.M. ON SUNDAY. ON MONDAY, HER FUNERAL WILL BEGIN AT 9 A.M. AT THE MCDONOUGH FUNERAL HOME, 14 HIGHLAND STREET, LOWELL 978-458-6816. HER FUNERAL MASS WILL BE OFFERED AT ST. ANTHONY CHURCH, 893 CENTRAL ST, LOWELL AT 10 A.M.. BURIAL IN ST. MARY CEMETERY. MEMORIALS IN HER NAME TO DANA FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE, P O BOX 849168, BOSTON MA 02284-9168.
