Lucia Mariza Hampshire

The only child of Marie Janet Saco, Mariza burst onto the scene on January 23rd, 1935, in São Paulo, Brazil. At 21, she married Jorge David Hampshire, with whom she created her best friend and partner-in-crime: her daughter, Ana Maria Hampshire. After Jorge’s passing in 1974, Mariza found work as an executive secretary at Montreal Engineering, where she fell in love with Luiz Carlos dos Santos. The two married in 1981 and eventually settled in Petropolis, Rio de Janeiro, where they cared for an impressive menagerie of dogs, chickens, and local wildlife. Her family grew in 1990, 1991, and 1995 with the births of her three grandchildren, André, Cecilia, and Bia.

Mariza dreamed with wild abandon. She wielded her optimism like a sword; if she wanted to do something, the odds could not deter her. Ana and Luiz were loyal co-conspirators in her every audacious scheme; her enthusiasm was infectious, and their resistance was futile. She convinced them to move to the United States in 2001, where the family hopped from Florida to Michigan before arriving in Texas in 2007.

The most important constant in Mariza’s life was her family. She doted on us and was our loudest cheerleader. During the day, her laughter warmed the home; at night, her snores kept monsters at bay. We played Canasta after the evening novella. She had a habit of cheating after a few glasses of wine and would laugh good-naturedly when she was caught.

Mariza loved easily and deeply. She never met a stranger. She cried for every animal on TV, even (or especially) the animated ones. She knew how to appreciate the little things: breakfast with Ana and Luiz, sunsets, rainbows, and full moons. She loved Frank Sinatra, Bossa Nova, and the Texas A&M marching band; most of all, she loved listening to her grandson, André, play the piano.

Mariza was predeceased by her mother and her first husband, Jorge. She is survived by her husband of 41 years, Luiz; her daughter, Ana; her three grandchildren, André, Cecilia, and Bia; and their partners, Elisabeth, Maja, and Dan. She also leaves behind five adoring and spoiled fur grandbabies and great-grandbabies with whom she shared many meals at the kitchen table.

A celebration of life for Lucia will be held Friday, July 26, 2024 from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM at Brookside Funeral Home-Cypress Cr, 9149 Highway 6 North, Houston, TX 77095.