Maria Donaria Massa

Maria was welcomed into the world on October 24, 1930, in São Miguel, Azores, by her parents Antonio Moniz Machado and Maria Da Conceição Medeiros (predeceased).

On January 3, 1954, she married the love of her life, Samuel Massa (predeceased). Together they shared 56 wonderful years of marriage. In 1960 the family moved to Vancouver, British Columbia. Though learning English was a challenge Maria found her own way to communicate, and somehow everyone always understood her perfectly.

Faith was central to Maria’s life. She was deeply involved in her Portuguese church community, attended every religious celebration, and, even when she was no longer mobile, continued to take part in the weekly church service at her care home.

At home she was the quiet conductor of the family orchestra — accountant, financial planner, event organizer, chef, and housekeeper all in one. When Maria set her mind on something, everyone pitched in until the goal was reached. Her love of crafts lives on in the many knitted blankets she made for her family (most of us still have four or five).

Maria was a devoted mother to her son Walter Massa and her daughter Sandra Roach (Michael); a dear grandmother to Jennifer Hall (Christopher), Cossette Massa, Amalia Massa, and Connor Roach; and a great-grandmother to Sebastian Hall.

She will be deeply missed by her nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and many friends.

A service will be held on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.atOur Lady of Fatima Parish, 1423 East 13th Avenue, Vancouver. The Committal Service will follow at 11:45 a.m. at Ocean View Burial Park in the Abbey Mausoleum.

Revelation 21:4 (KJV)

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.