Maria Elisa Branco

With a heart full of love and a spirit that touched all who knew her, Maria Elisa Nune Branco was born on July 13, 1939, in the small village of Urros, Torre de Moncorvo, Portugal. She married her school sweetheart, Manuel Branco, in 1958, and together they built a life filled with love and laughter.

From her earliest days, Maria Elisa was a beacon of kindness, warmth, and grit. She worked hard all her life, paving the way for her children to have the best possible future.

In her early years, she owned and operated a grocery store in Portugal with her late husband, Manuel. She often went beyond the role of shopkeeper, taking the time to write letters for elderly customers and friends alike, connecting them to their loved ones when words seemed distant. She was a pillar of her community.

In 1981, Maria Elisa, along with her husband, made the courageous decision to move to the United States, where she began working at Heinz in Tracy, California. This was the start of a new chapter in her life, one where her strength and work ethic continued to shine. She carried the same warmth and generosity that defined her earlier years, making new friends and leaving a lasting impact on those who had the privilege to know her.

She was predeceased by her beloved mother, Candida Azevedo, her father, Antonio Nune, her first husband, Manuel Branco, her second husband, Antonio Andrade, and her eldest grandson, Jessie Libano. Yet, she leaves behind a family that was her pride and joy, including her three children, Maria, Fernando, and Irene, whom she cherished more than anything in the world. She is also survived by her four grandchildren, Marc, Bianca, Elizabeth, and Eleann, as well as six great-grandchildren, Adrian, Savannah, Alisse, Ezra, Julian, and Lincoln.

In the final moments of her life, surrounded by her three children, Maria Elisa was at peace. The day before she passed, she spent time laughing and smiling with them, radiating the same warmth she had given throughout her life. Her passing was peaceful, as she was embraced by immense love from her family in her final moments.

Her legacy continues in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, all of whom carry a part of her spirit in their hearts. Her family finds comfort knowing that she is now reunited with those in Heaven before her who she loved dearly, and that she rests peacefully in the arms of our Lord. Her love will forever guide us.

May she rest in peace.