Maria Jose Gomes

Maria José (Dos Reis) Gomes, age 89 of New Bedford, passed away on Wednesday, December 7, 2022 at Tobey Hospital in Wareham. She was the wife of the late Raimundo Gomes, to whom she had been married for 63 years prior to his passing in February of this year.

Born in Ribeira Brava, Madeira, she was the daughter of the late Antonio and Conceicao (Augusta) Abreu Dos Reis. She immigrated to the United States in 1966 with her family and settled in New Bedford and was a parishioner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.

Maria José worked as an embroiderer in Madeira prior to immigrating to the United States. She was a Seamstress for many years, working for Paul Modes and several other clothing companies in the New Bedford area until her retirement.

Mrs. Gomes had no formal education and learned to read and write with the help of her brother-in-law John Pontes. She took US citizenship courses in English at night school and obtained her citizenship in English. She learned to drive at the age of 54 and drove for many years. She was a compassionate, caring and loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, who enjoyed cooking, sewing, gardening, traveling and hosting family gatherings.

Maria José is survived by her four children, Cesarina “Sarah” Testa and her husband Joao of West Bridgewater, Virgilio Gomes and his wife Otilia of Dartmouth, Mary Jo McCarten and her husband Christopher of Fall River, and Iolanda “Landa” Gomes of New Bedford and her fiancé Carlos Monte of Tiverton; six grandchildren Alyssa Faria, Nicholas Testa, Jonathan Faria and his girlfriend Magan Coute, Christie Alberto and her husband Michael, Lila Gomes, and Samuel McCarten and his fiancé Vanessa Botelho; three sisters Conceicao DeSousa of Dartmouth, Candida Constantino of New Bedford and Florentina Fernandes of New Bedford; two brothers Domingos Dos Reis of Dartmouth and Manuel De Abreu of Florida and many nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Celeste Pestana, and Goncalo, Luis, Aldora and Manuel Dos Reis.

Her Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Rivet St in New Bedford, on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, at 10:00 A.M. Visitation in the funeral home prior to the Mass from 8:30 – 9:30 A.M. Internment in Rural Cemetery. Arrangements are in the care of the WARING-SULLIVAN HOME at DARTMOUTH, 230 Russells Mills Rd., Dartmouth, MA 02748.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Mrs. Gomes’ honor may be made to Our Lady, Queen of the Seraphic Order, c/o Our Lady’s Chapel, 600 Pleasant St., New Bedford, MA 02740. To place an online tribute, please visit: www.waring-sullivan.com