Quelminda V. Mendonsa

Quelminda V. Mendonsa, 88, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at Lowell General Hospital, surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved widow of Manuel Mendonsa, who passed away in 1989.

Quelminda was born on February 5, 1938, in Graciosa in the Azores, Portugal, the daughter of the late Albertino Veiga and Rosa (Santos) Veiga. She was raised and educated in Graciosa, where she married and began raising her family. In May of 1966, she immigrated to the United States with her husband and their four children, settling in Lowell where she would build a life centered on family, faith, and community.

She dedicated more than 25 years to the Lowell Public Schools as a bilingual paraprofessional, spending much of her career at the Moody School. In that role, she helped countless students and families navigate language barriers and feel welcomed in their new community. Her kindness, patience, and gentle encouragement made a lasting impact on many young lives.

Quelminda had a deep love for cooking and baking, and nothing made her happier than sharing her food with family and friends. She also enjoyed gardening and took great pride in caring for her yard. Her Catholic faith was a central part of her life, and she was very active in her church, serving for many years as a lay Eucharistic minister.

To her grandchildren and great-grandchildren she was lovingly known as "Vovó," a name that many others affectionately adopted as well. It was a role she embraced wholeheartedly, offering warmth, guidance, and unconditional love to all who knew her.

She is survived by her four children: Joseph M. Mendonça and his wife Lorna T. Mendonça of Lowell; Maria Mendonsa of Lowell and Qatar; Davide Mendonça and his wife Kathleen of Connecticut; and Robert Mendonsa Sr. and his significant other Theresa Godfrey of Tewksbury.

She also leaves her beloved grandchildren: Lena M. Ferreira (and husband Adam), Jeremy A. Mendonça (and wife Lily), Taylor M. Mendonça, Adam J. Mendonça, Sami Al Sadi, Davide M. Mendonça, Michael J. Mendonça, Kayla M. Mendonça, Robert Mendonsa Jr., and Matthew P. Brems; as well as her cherished great-grandchildren Marc J. Ferreira, Carina M. Ferreira, Tyler D. Ferreira, William M. Mendonça, and Carter J. Eyssi.

Quelminda is also survived by her sister Leontina Silva of Tewksbury; her brother Manuel Veiga and his wife Manuela of Northwood, New Hampshire; her nephews Steve Silva and Jonathan Veiga; her great-nephews Harrison, Luke, and Declan Silva; her cousin and dear friend Mary Fatima Medeiros of Lowell; along with many other cousins and extended family members.

She was the devoted mother of the late Albertino Mendonça, who passed away in 2024, and the sister-in-law of the late Albert Silva.

You are welcome to attend her calling hours on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 from 4pm until 7pm at the McDonough Funeral Home, 14 Highland Street, Lowell, MA 01852.

Her funeral will begin at the funeral home on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 9am, her funeral Mass will take place at 10am in Saint Anthony's Church, 893 Central Street, Lowell, MA 01852. Burial in Saint Mary Cemetery, Tewksbury.