Conceição "Connie" Goncalves

Conceição "Connie" Goncalves
Conceição "Connie" Goncalves, 75, of Shelton, Connecticut, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 12, 2025. The measure of a life is not in what we keep, but in what we give. And in her 75 years, Conceição Goncalves gave everything -- her time, her care, her love -- to the people she cherished most. Conceição, lovingly known as Connie or "Ceu" by her family and friends, passed away peacefully at the age of 75, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Selhariz, Chaves, Portugal, she was the daughter of the late Antonio Pinto Vaz and Maria Rodrigues. In 1970, she immigrated to the United States in pursuit of the American dream, eventually settling in the Huntington section of Shelton, Connecticut. Connie is survived by her devoted husband of 55 years, Francisco "Frankie" Goncalves; her daughter, Luisa Goncalves of Calabasas, California, and Luisa's husband, William Eicher; and her cherished step-granddaughter, Sarah Eicher of Berkeley, California. She was predeceased by her beloved son, Antonio "Tony" Goncalves, who passed away in 2009.
She is also survived by her sisters, Maria Barroco, Helena Teixeira, and Tina Teixeira of New York; her sister, Julia Costa of Chaves, Portugal; her brother, Joaquim Machado of New York; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and dear friends. A hardworking and resilient woman, Connie held various jobs throughout her life, including positions at Bridgeport Fittings and Bridgeport Metal Goods, before retiring in 2009 from Griffin Hospital, in Derby, where she worked in Environmental Services. She dedicated her life to providing for her family and ensuring a better future for her children. Proud of her Portuguese heritage, Connie preserved her culture through her incredible culinary talents. Her kitchen was always filled with the aromas of traditional dishes like porco à alentejana, folar, and her beloved paella. Each year, she would smoke sausages to prepare salpicão, chouriço, and presunto - delights she generously shared with family and friends. A natural hostess and true "social butterfly," Connie's motto was always "Eat, eat, eat!" She delighted everyone with her famous pound cake and was a pioneer of the farm-to-table lifestyle, growing an abundant garden each summer and sharing its bounty with her community. A devout Catholic, Connie was a faithful member of Our Lady of Fatima Portuguese Church. Faith quietly guided Connie and Frank's lives, shaping their values and the love they shared with others. Connie's generosity, warmth, and spirit of service touched all who knew her. She was a nurturing and devoted mother who worked tirelessly to give her children the best education possible, sending them to Catholic school and college. For those close to her, stepping into Connie's home meant stepping into a place where the world's troubles lost their weight. She could make you feel like the most important person in the room, even the most important person in her life, if only for that moment. Even on the hardest days, when the weight of life seemed too heavy, Connie had a way of making you believe, and even know, that everything was going to be all right. She found joy in the everyday, tending to her abundant garden, caring for her free-range chickens, cooking meals that filled the home with warmth, and making sure Frankie was happy and well cared for. Connie also had a deep love for animals and adored her beloved fur babies: her three cats, Mia, Frusco, and Kitty; and her cherished standard poodle, Rosie.
Family was Connie's center. Every Sunday, relatives came from near and far, to share stories, laughter, and traditional Portuguese dishes she had lovingly prepared. She passed down her heritage through the food she cooked, the traditions she upheld, and the love she poured into every gathering. Each morning, she and Frankie, accompanied by their beloved standard poodle Rosie, would walk through the neighborhood, stopping to greet friends and neighbors. Her bright smile, kind words, and genuine interest in others made her a treasured presence in the community. Those who knew her will miss many things, including her warm smile, her open door, and the way her table was always set for one more; but in the quiet back roads of Shelton, the absence will be felt most in the sight once so familiar- Frankie and Connie strolling together, Rosie trotting ahead, pausing at each neighbor's home to share a greeting and a laugh. The joyful call, "Come on, Rosie, let's go," will now live only in the hearts of those who were blessed to hear it. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, friend, sister, and neighbor - a woman whose heart was as full as her table and whose legacy of love, food, and faith will live on in all who had the joy of knowing her. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. in Our Lady of Fatima Church, 465 Huntington Rd., Bridgeport. Interment will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Trumbull. Relatives and friends may greet the family on Saturday morning from 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. in the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.abriola.com/