Maria Lourdes Sardinha, 87, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 17, 2018, in Fallbrook, California . She was born on January 19, 1931, in Funchal, Madeira (Portugal) where she was raised and where she would later meet her husband, Joao Sardinha who she loved dearly for all the 51 years they were married. Joao brought her to Caracas, Venezuela where they began a new life together. She gave birth to eight (8) wonderful children while assisting Joao at his restaurant. She later joined his dream of moving to America and in 1976 they settled in Jupiter, Florida, to be amongst Joao’s brothers and sisters. Maria was happiest when she was in the presence of others and she expressed her love through food and singing. During her later years, she worked in the cafeteria at Palm Beach Gardens Hospital and upon retiring, she volunteered at both Mary Immaculate Catholic Church (as part of the group choir) and the North County Senior Center (her local nursing home). She loved crocheting and knitting and embroidered many amazing garments and blankets for all of her children and grandchildren. She also loved to read and write and even made a hand-written book of prayers for her loved ones. Maria was a very vibrant woman whose smile would light up any room and she loved her family implicitly.
Left to cherish her memory are her children, Rosario Sardinha, Juan Sardinha (Magaly), Antonio Sardinha, Ana Sardinha, Margarita Sardinha (Carlos), Maritza Sardinha (Dennis), Grace Fockler (Ross), and many many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, her niece, sisters and brothers-in-law and friends. She is predeceased by her husband Joao Sardinha, her son Mario Sardinha and her mother Maria Jose de Abreu. The family will receive friends on Monday, November 26, 2018, at Aycock-Riverside Funeral and Cremation Center from 5:00pm to 7:00pm and on Tuesday, November 27, 2018 a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 A.M. at St. Jude Catholic Church in Tequesta. Entombment will follow at Riverside Memorial Park in Tequesta.
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