Bruna Rocha

Bruna Simoes Rocha, of Winchester, formerly of Malden, passed away unexpectedly on August 9, 2023. Bruna was the beloved fiancée of John Harris of Winchester, and their wedding was to take place in a few weeks. She was the loving daughter of Alexandro Rocha and his wife, Rafaela Cardoso, of Fort Lauderdale, and of Bianca Simoes and her husband, Leandro Lima, of Deerfield Beach, Florida. Bruna was the loving big sister of Bernardo Rocha, of Orlando, Florida. She was the beloved second daughter to Fred and Patrice Harris of Woburn. She was the loving sister-in- law of Jimmy, Eileen and Patrick Harris, and their partners, Amanda Pinheiro, Eddie Foster, and Brianne Abrams. Beloved granddaughter of Pedro Simoes and Leda De Souza Simoes of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Cecilia Oliveira Rocha of Santa Maria Madalena, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Predeceased by her grandfather Alvaro Manoel Rocha. Special niece of Mario Petrone and Glauce Carvalho Petrone of Lynn. Bruna was born in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil in 1996 and moved to the Boston area when she was two years old. She was a graduate of Forestdale School in Malden and Matignon High School in Cambridge. She attended UMass Boston and recently graduated from the Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics. She worked for many years as a nanny and child care provider to several families. Bruna possessed an amazing work ethic and often held two or three jobs at the same time.
At Matignon High School Bruna met the love of her life, John Harris. It was love at first sight and they were inseparable ever after. They were approaching 12 years together as a couple and were looking forward to their wedding. Unknown to John and her loved ones, Bruna suffered in silence from manic depression. John is committed to using her tragic loss as a means to help others who suffer from undiagnosed or undisclosed mental disturbances. Bruna was a selfless person who always lived her life helping others and this will be an appropriate way to honor her memory.
Bruna leaves behind a huge network of cousins, aunts and uncles, and too many friends to count. Everyone who met her fell in love with her. Her departure leaves a gap that can never be filled, but we will forever honor her memory and her life of dedication and love. She brought light, happiness and love to all who knew her.
Bruna's wake will be held on Friday from 4 to 7 PM at St. Camillus Church, 1185 Concord Turnpike in Arlington. Her funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Camillus Church on Saturday at 12 PM. Donations in honor of Bruna's life may be made to the Gofundme in memory of Bruna set up by Danielle Santos. All proceeds will be used to establish the Bruna Rocha Memorial Fund, which will be used to assist others who share Bruna's struggle. If one life is saved, Bruna's passing will not be in vain. The enormous outpouring of love received since last week proves how deeply Bruna's beautiful life of love and giving touched hundreds of people. John is forever grateful.