Maria Rita De Melo

Maria Rita De Melo was born October 30th 1947 in Cabo da Praia Terceira Azores to Gabriel Romao (deceased) and Teresa Romao (86 years old). Maria Rita passed away on December 27th 2014 in Merced Ca. She was known to most as Rita due to her second name. Maria was married on May 7, 1967 to Francisco De Melo, who was a farmer and also worked on the American Air Force Base in Lajes, Azores. On April 4th 1984, she and her family immigrated to Los Banos California where she began to work in several different industries but mainly in home health care. She later became a business owner, and started her own home health care facility named Guardian Angel Home Care.

She is survived by her three children Frank, Nuno, and Lidia, who is married to Danny Silveira; grandchildren include Ethan, Grace, Leanne, and Emilly. Her surviving siblings include sisters Filomena, Matilde, Jacinta, Lucia, and Ana and brothers Francisco and Jose Natalio. The family would like to thank everyone who was so close to her over the many years in the Azores and also including all the families who made an impact upon her life in so many special ways in California.

A Visitation will be held on January 2nd 2015 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. with Rosary at 6:00 p.m. at Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home 1490 B Street Merced CA, 95341. A Funeral Mass will be held on January 3rd 2015 at 12:00 p.m. At Immaculate Conception Catholic Church 2988 North Buhach Road Atwater CA, 95301. Burial to follow at Turlock Memorial Park 575 North Soderquist Road Turlock CA, 95380.