Maria Natalia (Medeiros) Arruda, age 85, of Fall River, passed away surrounded by her beloved family on Friday, October 13, 2023 at St. Anne’s Hospital. She was the wife of the late Joseph F. “Jose Francisco” Arruda to whom she had been married for 66 years prior to his passing in February.
Born in Capelas, Sao Miguel, Acores, a daughter of the late Sergio and Maria Francisca (Carvalho) Medeiros, she immigrated to the United States in 1974 and settled in Fall River.
A loving wife, mother, and grandmother, Natalia will be remembered as a hardworking, gentle soul who sacrificed selflessly. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, gardening and rooting on her favorite soccer team, Benfica. A devout Catholic and an incredible cook, her sweet bread and malassadas will be missed by all.
She is survived by seven daughters, Marie Lou Arruda-Martins of Fall River, Maria Natalia Arruda of Fall River, Theodora Gabriel of Swansea, Lucia Costa and her husband Joao of Westport, Alcina Lewis and her husband Jeremy of Tiverton, Maria Lanosa and her husband Jason of Somerset, and Lorraine Smith and her husband James of Swansea; four sons, Antonio Arruda and his wife Betty of Cape Coral, FL, Serf Arruda and his wife Rachel of Fall River, Sergio Arruda and his fiancée Teri-Lyn of Fall River and Joey Arruda of Fall River; two sisters, Maria Eduarda Barbosa and Lucia Moniz and her husband Laureno; one daughter-in-law, Theresa Arruda; 26 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was the mother of the late Paul Jorge Arruda and Joao Carlos Arruda and the sister of the late Antonio and Sergio Medeiros, Manuel Carvalho, Gloria Camara and Olga Gaspar.
Her Funeral Service will be held Thursday, October 19, 2023 at 8:15 AM from the Waring-Sullivan Home at Cherry Place, 178 Winter Street, Fall River followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 AM in Good Shepherd Church, 1598 South Main Street, Fall River. Burial will be in Notre Dame Cemetery, Fall River. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours are Wednesday from 4:00 to 7:00 PM.
