Maria Santo Cristo Almeida

Maria Santo Cristo (Medeiros) Almeida, age 94, of Fall River passed away Friday, January 20, 2023 at her residence surrounded by her loving family after a brief illness. She was the wife of the late Mariano F. Almeida.

Born in Capelas, Sao Miguel, Acores, Portugal, a daughter of the late Manuel Pavao and Maria Amelia (Pacheco) Medeiros, she immigrated to the United States having settled in Fall River in 1972.

She worked at River Falls for many years. A devout catholic, she was a communicant of St. Michael’s Church where she volunteered in the kitchen for many events. She was also a member of their Holy Rosary Sodality.

A skilled seamstress, she also enjoyed crocheting, spending time with her family and baking her famous sweet rice and biscuits. Her specialty was her Thanksgiving recheio, a recipe she passed down to her granddaughters.

She is survived by two daughters, Lubelia Botelho and her husband Jose and Maria DaPonte; three sons, Humberto Almeida and his wife Maria Conceicao, Laudalino ‘’Larry” Almeida and his wife Eva Maria and Manuel Almeida all of Fall River. She is also survived by ten grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Agostinho Pavao, Manuel Pavao Medeiros, Jose Pavao, Antonio Pavao Medeiros, Maria de Lourdes Camara and Joao Medeiros and mother-in-law of the late Marino DaPonte.

Her Funeral will be held on Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 8:30AM from the Waring-Sullivan Home at Cherry Place, 178 Winter St., Fall River, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00AM in St. Michael’s Church, 189 Essex St., Fall River. Relatives and friends invited. Visiting hours Wednesday from 4:00 to 7:00PM. Contributions in her honor may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Burial in St Patrick’s Cemetery, Fall River.