Maria Odete Ramos

Maria Odete Ramos, beloved sister, aunt, and friend, passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 7, 2026. She was 85 years old.

Maria, known to most as Odete, was born September 15, 1940, in Óbidos, Portugal. She contracted polio when she was three years old, but she never once let the disease define her throughout her life. Odete moved to CT with her family when she was 20-years old. She found a job as an electronic meter technician at Industrionics of South Windsor, where she excelled and stayed for over 20 years.

Despite her disability, Odete kept busy with many activities during her life. She was an active member of the Hartford Handicapped Helpers-an organization that provides water rehabilitation for those with disabilities-until its disbandment in the late 1990s, and she was a member of the Square Wheelers Square Dancing Group, going to exhibitions all over New England for over 10 years. Odete also traveled extensively throughout the US and internationally, returning to Portugal several times to visit friends and family. Additionally, Odete loved crocheting doilies and tending to the many cats and birds she kept over the years.

After a brief illness in July 2024, Odete moved into the Woodlake Convalescent home in Tolland where she stayed until her passing. The family would like to thank Woodlake-and Certified Nursing Assistants Michelle and Lorena in particular-for providing exceptional care to Odete.

Odete leaves behind her brother, Faustino Ramos and his wife, Janice, a brother in-law, Antonio Carago, four nieces and one nephew and their spouses, Anne Marie Silva (Sebastian), Rachel Pereira (Ronaldo), Stephanie Miranda (Gilvan), Jennifer Broderick (David), and Joseph Ramos (Zeynep), as well as many grandnieces and grandnephews.

Odete was predeceased by her parents Faustino and Guilhermina Ramos and her sister Ana Maria Carago.

All are welcome to join the family at Samsel & Carmon Funeral Home 419 Buckland Road, South Windsor, CT 06074 on Saturday March 21, 2026, for a calling hour from 9:30-10:30 am with a service at 10:30 am at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Wapping Cemetery in South Windsor. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Connecticut Humane Society at www.cthumane.org To leave a condolence, please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com