Maria Angela Pereira

Maria Angela Pereira passed away peacefully in her home on October 4th, surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Chandor, a village in her beloved Goa, India on November 13th, 1941, she was the youngest child of Aniceto and Maria Piedade Diniz, and the devoted sister of Guilhermina Monteiro and José Milagres Diniz. Maria married José Pereira in 1965, and together they raised 5 children. Predeceased by her husband, she is survived by their children: Sofia, Teresa, Paulo, Mario, and Carmela; her daughter-in-law (wife of Mario) Danielle; and her grandchildren, Jacob and Anna.

Maria dedicated her life to her family and community. Arriving in this country in 1970 as a young mother of three, she established a loving home through sheer determination, strength, and resourcefulness. She raised her growing family with creativity, strength, affection, and humor. A gracious hostess, Maria welcomed loved ones with a warm, vibrant smile, frequently inviting guests to share a cup of tea or some of her delicious food.

A lifelong caregiver, Maria looked after her own children and grandchildren, as well as neighborhood children and retired nuns at Mary the Queen convent in Yonkers. She also maintained the pleasant, inviting atmosphere at the Sisters of Charity office at Mount Saint Vincent College.

A lifelong member of the Catholic church, Maria carried her deep devotion across continents when she emigrated to America. As a young mother in the Bronx, she cultivated community with the ladies she met at church. She faithfully attended Mass every Sunday and on all holy days. For many years, she was a member of the choir at St. Margaret's Church. She possessed the rare gift of instinctive harmony, effortlessly weaving a rich tapestry of sound that added depth, warmth, and emotional character to the melodies that moved her. Maria especially loved singing the hymns of her mother tongue (Konkani), and cherished the traditional Latin hymns she had learned in Goa as a young girl.
Maria's greatest joy was time spent with family, sharing home-cooked meals she made with love and intuition, rather than recipes or rigid instructions. Her artistic instinct extended well beyond the kitchen. Possessing an astute eye for organic elegance, she skillfully crafted stylish items for her family, transforming raw and thrifted materials into beautiful clothing, handmade dolls, furniture, and home decor. A generous, kind, and authentic soul, she adored animals, especially goats! Her cherished tabby cats (first Mim, then Zippy) were bona fide members of her family. She found peace in gardening and arranging flowers, and loved long phone conversations with friends and relatives while enjoying a "nice, hot cup of tea" and a little treat. Maria was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.
Reposing will be held on Thursday, October 9th from 5-8 pm at Riverdale-on-Hudson Funeral Home, 6110 Riverdale Ave. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, October 10th at 9:45 am at St. Margaret of Cortona Church. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne NY.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Dementia Society of America or Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for Cancer Research.