Beatriz Alves

She was born Maria Beatriz Gonçalves in Porto Moniz, Madeira, Portugal in 1942 to Antonio Gonçalves Luis and Maria Clementina De Freitas Luis. She was the eighth of ten children and fiercely loved her three sisters, six brothers and many nieces and nephews. She eventually Americanized her name to Beatriz Luis Alves to correct an error on her birth certificate and reflect her married last name.

In 1973, Beatriz emigrated from Portugal to the United States and settled in California’s Bay Area. She began working various jobs, including crop harvesting on fruit and nut ranches, as well as packaging mushrooms at Monterey Mushroom Company in Morgan Hill. In 1979, she began her career as a Press Operator for Orchard Supply Hardware where she printed and packed letterhead, business cards and retail pull tags. Once Orchard’s printshop on 7th Street closed in 1989, she took her skills to the printshops of local school districts, including Milpitas Unified School District in Milpitas and Oak Grove School District in San Jose. Various health conditions forced her to take disability prior to retiring in 2004.

Beatriz met the love of her life, João Vieira Alves (Johnny), in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal. Excited to start their new lives together, the two were legally married on March 3, 1973 in Funchal and again on June 2, 1973 at St. Catherine Church in Morgan Hill.

Beatriz adored children and she and Johnny could not wait to start a family of their own. In 1975, they welcomed their eldest daughter, Patricia. After trying to have another child for years with no luck, Beatriz and Johnny welcomed Beatriz’s sister Olivia, brother-in-law Antonio, niece Anna Paula and nephews Herberto and Marcio to their home in 1980. Little did they know that they would welcome their youngest daughter, Robina, in 1981 and another niece, Idalina, in 1982. Their home thrived on the love and laughter of ten family members until 1987 when the Farias moved into their own home just two doors down the street.

Beatriz’s favorite role was that as grandmother. She was overjoyed to become a grandmother to Madeline in 2012 and Skylar in 2016. She treasured her time with her granddaughters and loved being their Avó, often referring to them as her reason for living and the best medicine for whatever ailed her.

Beatriz had a soft spot for her furry grandbabies too, treating each one like a valuable family member. Buddy, Oliver, Capone, Jasmine and Ronaldo will miss their Avozinha who never failed to care for them with all her heart.

Beatriz was a devout Catholic and a parishioner of Santa Teresa Church. Though her health did not allow her to attend mass in person, she remained ever faithful, watching Santa Teresa’s mass from home via YouTube and reading her bible daily.

Everyone who knew Beatriz knew how much she loved her extensive yard filled with fruit trees. She encouraged Johnny’s green thumb and ensured that he filled their house and the homes of many others with apples, oranges, lemons, figs, peaches, apricots, plums, avocados, passion fruit, loquats, grapes and olives.

There was even kale and beans for balance!

Interspersed throughout the yard were the roses and orchids Johnny cultivated for Beatriz because he knew she loved them.

When she could not enjoy her yard any longer, she kept herself busy with her other passions – cooking for her family and working her sewing machine like a veteran seamstress.

Beatriz was a quiet and reserved person – an introvert who preferred listening over speaking and kept her most trusted circle of family and friends very small. But do not be fooled – her voice was plenty loud and commanding when it needed to be. Her disposition was meek . . . but not her character. After finding her mother and father in Heaven, we are certain that she ran with all her might to find Johnny whom she missed immensely. Though they could drive each other to the brink of insanity (and did so often!), never did two people love and support each other quite so intensely. We know that she is rejoicing with her siblings, especially her sisters Maria, Fatima and Olivia with whom she shared incredible bonds. Beatriz will once again find Johnny’s aunt Joana and her best friend Casilda to catch up on the latest telenovelas on Univision.

Beatriz will always be remembered for her immense heart filled with love and devotion for her entire family. There was nothing she would not do or make happen for her family. We will always imagine her singing in multiple languages – whether it was Fleetwood Mac’s “Little Lies”, Juanes’s “A Dios Le Pido” or anything by Amália Rodrigues. We could not have asked for a better wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, aunt, godmother, cousin, neighbor and friend and will miss Beatriz every day. Her memory, stories and quick wit will live on in the hearts of all those who loved her.

Beatriz was preceded in death by Johnny, her husband of 50 years, as well as by her parents and eight of her siblings. She is survived by her daughter Patricia Ferreira, son-in-law John Ferreira and granddaughter Madeline Ferreira; daughter Robina Oliveira, son-in-law Andre Oliveira and granddaughter Skylar Oliveira; brother Damasceno Gonçalves Luis and his wife Olga, nieces Maria Jose Gonçalves and Maria Clementina Gonçalves, his sons-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; niece Anna Paula Faria and her children Briana and Calvin; nephew Herberto Faria, niece Amber Faria, their children Jazlyn, Cole, Christian and Isabella, and their grandson Cooper; nephew Marcio Faria, niece Tasia Faria and their children Zelda and Enzo; niece Idalina Martinho, nephew Joseph Martinho, their children Stephanie, Nicholas, Josie, Alyssa, Jacob and Jordyn, and their grandchildren Hailey, Vincent, Christopher, Nicholas Jr. and Jocelyn; and countless additional nieces, nephews, godchildren, cousins, neighbors and friends.

All services will occur on April 10, 2025. A visitation for Beatriz will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Lima Family Santa Clara Mortuary, 466 North Winchester Boulevard, Santa Clara, CA 95050, followed by recitation of the rosary, eulogy and prayers from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Burial will occur at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery, 490 Lincoln Street, Santa Clara, CA 95050 at 2:00 p.m.

A celebration of life will be planned for a future date. In lieu of donations, Beatriz would want you to spend time with your loved ones, laughing and enjoying being together.