Mary Semedo

1918 - 2022

Mary Semedo
August 30, 2022
Mary (Santos) Semedo, age 103, was born on September 16, 1918, in New Bedford, Massachusetts. She passed away on Tuesday, August 30, 2022, in Stratford, Connecticut; two weeks shy of her 104th birthday. She was the beloved wife of the late Louis A. Semedo of Stratford, and the daughter of the late Manuel J. Santos and the late Maria Czeltina Custodio Santos, who both immigrated to the United States in the early 1900s from the Cape Verde Islands. She was a long-time area resident. She was a retired nurse aide at Bridgeport Hospital for 24 years. Prior to that she worked as housekeeper for many years, beloved by all the families for whom she worked. She was a graduate of the New Bedford Vocational Highschool and married her husband Louis, in 1948. Mary, along with her daughter Mary Lou, was very active in Saint James Church in Stratford. She was also a member of the Saint James Ladies Guild, and a long time Girl Scout leader. Mary was a member of the Stratford Baldwin Senior Center, the Cape Verdean Women's Social Club, and the Stratford AARP Chapter. Mary enjoyed traveling to other parts of the world, including Europe and Hawaii. Mary was one the most devoted fans of the UCONN Women's Basketball team. As a season ticket holder, she has been among their oldest fans attending games and season tournaments regularly with her daughter, Mary Lou. She was interviewed by the Connecticut Post. She is survived by her three children, Manuel J. Santos and his wife, Diana, of Texas, her daughters Mary Lou of Stratford and Barbara and her life partner, Scott of McLean, Virginia. She leaves behind two grandchildren, Van Santos and Olivia Applewhite whom she called "Grandma's Princess," and one great-grandchild, Trevor Santos. Mary was predeceased by her late brothers and their spouses John Santos and Adeline of New Bedford, MA and Joseph Santos and Christine of Nantucket, MA. She is survived by a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends in New Bedford and Stratford. Friends are invited to attend a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. by meeting directly at Saint James Church, 2070 Main St., Stratford. Interment will follow in Saint Michael's Cemetery, Stratford. Friends may visit with her family on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the William R. McDonald Funeral Home, 2591 Main St., Stratford. Donations in her memory may be made to the Saint James Church Care of My Father's House, 2110 Main St., Stratford, CT 06615, or the Sterling House Community Center, 2283 Main St., Stratford CT 06615, https://www.sterlinghousecc.org. For additional information or to share an online condolence, please visit www.wrmcdonaldfuneralhome.com