Maria “Noemia” da Maternidade Toste Fagundes Rocha was born on the 5th of May, 1935 in the village of Fonte do Bastardo on the Azorean island of Terceira in Portugal. Noemia passed peacefully into eternal life surrounded by her children and grandchildren on May 17, 2019.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Joao da Rocha Jr.; her parents, Manuel Toste Fagundes and Maria Borba Martins of Terceira, Acores; her sisters, Maria Livramento Mendes, Maria de Lourdes Dias, Maria Jose Borges, Maria Helena Fagundes, and Helena Fagundes all of Terceira, Acores; her brothers Joao Fagundes, Manuel Toste Fagundes, and David Fagundes all of Terceira, Acores, Francisco Fagundes of Hilmar, California, and Mateus Fagundes of Lowell, Massachusetts; her son in law Paul V. Rebelo, and her great granddaughter, Vanessa Thomas of Atwater, California.
Noemia is survived by her children John A. Rocha and wife Lidia of Stevinson, Teodelinda Rebelo of Hilmar, David Rocha and wife Edwina of Turlock, Bobby Rocha and wife Fatima of Hilmar, Helena Rocha of Gilroy, Richard Rocha and wife Lucy of Turlock, Belina Feijo and husband Phil of Tulare, and Kathy Castro and husband Shane of Ripon; 22 grandchildren, Steve Rebelo, Diane Couto (Michael), Adriana Gordin (Justin), Linda Rebelo, Daniel B. Rocha, Julianna Sousa (Steven), Ashli Bastiao (Philip), Marissa Borba (Jose), Justin Rocha, Felomena Thomas (Matthew), Andrea Struve (John), John Paul Rebelo, Joshua Rocha, Danielle Dias, Cristina Rocha, David Rocha, Phillip Feijo, Jaimee Rocha, Richard Feijo, Paul Rocha, Daniel R. Rocha and Easton Castro and 7 great grandchildren Sienna, Sebastian, Grayson, Mackenzie, Rosalie, Ryleigh and Layla; her sisters, Sister Ludevina Toste of Terceira, Acores and Helena Morgan (Richard) of Lowell, Massachusetts; and sisters in law, Rosa Fagundes of Hilmar, California, Maria Fagundes of Lowell, Massachusetts, Conceicao Fagundes, Valentina Fagundes and Filomena Toste of Terceira, Acores; many nieces and nephews, honorary grandchildren, and cousins.
Noemia was a devout Catholic, and parishioner of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Hilmar. She was a member of the Sisters of Saint Isabel, Nossa Senhora dos Milagros, Gustine and Nossa Senhora de Fatima, Turlock. Her life was devoted to her vocation as a loving wife, mother, aunt, grandmother and great grandmother. It was her greatest joy to be surrounded by her family and host them in her home for holidays, Sundays and any other day they stopped in. She did morning coffee with at least three of her children daily and she was rarely found idle. When she was in good health, she spent her time cooking, gardening, tending to her chickens and dogs, crocheting, praying, watching EWTN and spending time with her family. She was loved by many and will be missed greatly.
Services for Noemia will be on Thursday, May 23, 2019 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Hilmar, California, beginning with Visitation at 9:00 AM, Rosary at 11:30 AM followed by funeral mass, and Catholic burial.
Services are being provided by Whitehurst-Norton-Dias Funeral Service (FD504) of Turlock, California.
Donations can be made in her memory to Channel 49 KNXT, EWTN or Catholic Charities.
