Maria de Lourdes Alves da Cunha

Maria de Lourdes Alves da Cunha, affectionately known as "Vovó" (Portuguese for Nana), passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 10, 2026, surrounded by her loved ones. Born in Portugal in 1926, Vovó was a month shy of her 100th birthday. She was one of ten children and the only one of her sisters to attend college. She had a degree in accounting and ran the family business, the "Empire of Lace," in Belém do Pará (Brazil) for over ten years, until her younger siblings graduated from college or married. In 1958, she married and moved to Rio de Janeiro, and in 1974 to the United States. She was a talented seamstress, gardener, cook, pet whisperer, and card player. She was an avid reader, and always the most fashionable dresser and the best dancer in the room. Since 1992, she lived with her daughter, Maria Dacunha, and son-in-law, Fredric Rosenthal, in Bethesda, Maryland, helping raise her three grandchildren: Julia, Alex, and Eric. She was loved and admired by all who were lucky to know her, and engaged with those around her with joy, laughter, and curiosity. She was deeply perceptive and always generous with her advice and candid with her opinions. She lived with zest and elegance, even when the challenges of aging made it difficult. She will be missed and remembered by all family and friends. Those wishing to honor her memory may consider donations to organizations that support care for the elderly, such as Elder Helpers or the Elderly Wish Foundation.