Angelina "Caixeira" dos Santos

Angelina “Caixeira” (de Araujo) dos Santos, 87, of New Bedford, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 1, 2024, at St. Anne’s Hospital surrounded by her two daughters. She was the daughter of the late José Antônio Liberal and Ana de Araújo.

Angelina was born in Zebral, Montalegre, Portugal, and was a longtime resident of New Bedford. She worked as a seamstress at Justin Clothing and later retired from Cliftex. Her expertise in sewing was evident as she crafted most of her own outfits and fixed countless others. She loved baking her pão de ló and folar.

Angelina loved well and loved deeply. Her family always came first, and she cherished her roles as mãe, vó Lina, and vovó caixeira. She embodied the Portuguese concept of saudade, the profound love that lingers after something or someone is gone. After emigrating from Portugal for a better life, she instilled her culture and traditions into her children, ensuring they would endure through future generations. Sitting at the head of the table every Christmas Eve and Easter, Angelina brought her family together with a feast of polvo à portuguesa, bolos de bacalhau, rabanadas, aletria, and other Portuguese delicacies. When the festas came to town, Angelina and her family were there, enjoying Portuguese folk dances in the traditional costumes.

Angelina was a devout Catholic and a pillar of strength for her family. She often reminded her loved ones of the times she changed their diapers and tucked them into bed at night, no matter how old they were. Her love and care touched many hearts, and she will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

She is survived by her loving children, Dulce Matos and her husband José of New Bedford, Ana Paula d’Almeida and her husband Jacinto Michael of Westport, and Jaime Santos and his wife Maria of New Bedford; eight grandchildren, Nelson and Jeffrey Cruz of New Bedford, Jessica Cruz of Dartmouth, Jesse and Nicole d’Almeida of Westport, Christopher dos Santos of Nebraska, Stephanie dos Santos of New Bedford, and Cristine Murphy of Nebraska; nine great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren.

Her funeral service will be Monday, July 8th, 2024 at 9:00AM in the Rock Funeral Home, 1285 Ashley Blvd., New Bedford, MA 02745 followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church at 10:00AM, 136 Earle Street, New Bedford, MA 02746. Relatives and friends are invited. Visitation is Sunday, July 7th, 2024 from 2:00 to 5:00PM. Burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery. In-lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090, www.alz.org To leave a note of condolence: www.rock-funeralhome.com

Estamos sempre com saudades de você. You will be loved and missed dearly. May you rest in eternal peace with the Lord.