Rafaela loved her family and her Portuguese heritage, she was involved with the local festas and she loved to sing. She also loved to bake and made the best sweet bread. Rafaela had a heart of gold, she will be remembered for her abundance of love, kisses and hugs.
Rafaela is survived by her children; Joe Manuel Mello (Edwina) of Turlock, Maria das Dores Bohnke of Modesto and Deborah Costa Leonardes (Jorge) of Hilmar; her siblings; José Meneses da Costa (Maria) of Rhode Island, Manuel dos Santos Meneses Costa (Lucia) of Terceira and Maria do Carmo Meneses Costa da Rocha (Clemente) of Boston. Mrs. Mello also leaves behind her six grandchildren; Emanuel Mello (Shawna), Gabriel Leonardes, Michael Bohnke, Andre Leonardes, Jeremiah Leonardes and Moises Leonardes along with many nieces and nephews to honor her memory.
Rafaela was preceded in death by her husband Manuel S. Mello; her son Manuel "Junior" Mello; her father José Vieira da Costa and her mother Maria José da Costa; her sister Maria Meneses Costa; her granddaughter Crista Marie Bohnke along with five great grandchildren.
Rafaela was a member of Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church in Turlock, California, member of Crows Landing Hall and loved The Holy Spirit.
A visitation for Maria will be held Monday, July 8, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Whitehurst-Norton-Dias Funeral Service, 286 West Main, Turlock, CA 953804814.
Recitation of the Rosary will occur Monday, July 8, 2024 at 7:00 PM at Whitehurst-Norton-Dias Funeral Service, 286 West Main Street, Turlock, California 95380.
A Funeral Mass Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, 2602 S Walnut Rd, Turlock, CA 95380.
A committal service will occur Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at Turlock Memorial Park, 575 N Soderquist Rd, Turlock, CA 95380.
Serving as pallbearers are Joe Manuel Mello, Emanuel Mello, Jorge Leonardes, Gabriel Leonardes, Michael Bohnke and Andre Leonardes.
