Maria Jose Nunes

Maria Jose Nunes, 99, a San Diego resident of 75 years, passed June 20, 2019. She was born to Jose and Elvira Santana da Silva Ferreira, on September 5, 1919 in Paul do Mar, Madeira, Portugal. She is preceded in death by her loving and devoted husband of 69 years, Apolinario F. Nunes and her brothers: Alvaro, Jose, Humberto, and Joao Ferreira and Eleuterio Garces and her grandson, Gregory Correia. She is survived by her children: Mary E. Correia (Leo), Dan A. Nunes (Anya), Jeanette M. Correia (Manuel) and Judy C. Harries (David); brothers, Arthur Ferreira of San Diego and Jose Manuel Ferreira of Costa Rica; 15 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. She left her native country with her daughter via a cargo ship to join her husband in Lowell, MA in 1943. They then moved to San Diego in 1944. She worked for a period of time as a seamstress for Ratner Clothing Manufacturer in Chula Vista doing piece work and then in housekeeping for a local motel. She also did babysitting for working moms in the neighborhood, and was an amazing homemaker. She loved to sew, making her daughters’ clothing in their younger years, teaching her daughters to sew, embroider and crochet. She loved to cook and bake. For those who came to visit, were generally treated to a piece of her orange chiffon cake. She loved her garden, not only taking care of her flowers but her fruit trees and grape vine. Her home has been part of the Portuguese Historic Center Home Tour. She was active in the Legion of Mary, Catholic Daughters, Ladies Altar Society and a Minister of the Eucharist at St. Agnes Catholic Church for many years. She was a Past President for the A.P.U.M.E.C. #24 San Diego from 1967-1973 and a member of Festa do Santo Amaro, Inc. Services will be held at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 1140 Evergreen St. on Friday, July 5, 2019; Rosary 10:30 a.m. followed by Mass at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Festa do Santo Amaro, Inc. Scholarship Fund, PO Box 6262, SD, 92166, St. Agnes Church or EWTN which became very much a part of her life when she became homebound.