Maria S. Freitas

Maria Santana Freitas passed away peacefully at home on May 2, 2025 at the age of 83 after a short-term illness. She was born on January 6, 1942, in Flores, Azores to Antonio Medeiros Santana and Maria Alice Mendonca and immigrated to Vancouver, Canada in 1969 where her brother lived at the time. A short time afterwards she relocated to New Bedford, Massachusetts, and lived with her older sister and family.
In 1972 she moved to Arcata when she married her husband of 46 years, Jose M. Freitas. They welcomed their son Jerry in 1973 and lived in Arcata until
2014 when they made a final move to Brookings, Oregon to live close to their devoted son and beautiful granddaughters Isabella and Sophiana. They both
loved being part of their lives, helping them with rides to school and sport events. While she lived in Arcata, worked at Fisheries in Eureka and at Ramada Inn and Quality Inn in Arcata.
Maria was very skilled in sewing, crocheting, cooking and knitting. She was a devout catholic who recited the rosary every day and attended mass regularly while she was able to. She loved spending time with her family, sitting in the sunshine, and her blended white chocolate mocha from Dutch Bros. coffee.
Maria was preceded in death by her husband Jose M. Freitas, her parents, her brother Jose Medeiros (Flavia), her sisters Maria Alice Sousa (Jesuino),
Aurelina Freitas (Roque), Ilda Santana, Eulalia Corvelo (Jose), and many other family members and friends. She is survived by her caring son Jerry Freitas and his wife Nancy, Nancy's children Malvy and Michelle, her adored grandchildren Isabella Freitas and Sophiana Freitas; her dear godchildren: Lucinda Landry of New Bedford, MA; Jesse Medeiros of Vancouver, Canada; Maria Pohl of North Carolina; Anthony Freitas of Florida and Lucy Sousa of McKinleyville, CA. Mikenzie Sousa of McKinleyville, CA (Lucy's daughter), also considered Maria to be her Godmother. In addition, she is leaving behind her sister-in-law Maria Sousa and husband Manuel Sousa of McKinleyville, CA, sister-in-law Flavia Medeiros of Vancouver, Canada and many other nieces and nephews.
Under her calm, quiet ways she always had a witty sense of humor that surprised everyone. Her perpetual smile revealed a heart of gold. She will be missed by many and forever be in our hearts.