Maria Do Carmo Rezendes Montelindo was born in Faial in the Azores Islands of Portugal, she was the youngest of 7 children. Maria do Carmo was preceded in death by her father Evangelino, her mother Maria do Estrela, her three sisters Stella, Bella and Leonora, her brother Manuel, her husband of almost 30 years, Paul Rezendes and her husband of 21 years Tony Montelindo. She passed away at the age of 77 in June 2020.
Maria do Carmo was loved and adored by many people. Her 5 grandchildren called her Nana, and she was Tia to her many nieces and nephews. She was a wonderful wife, a loving mother of three children, and devoted grandmother of five grandchildren. Maria do Carmo is survived by her sister Maria do Lourdes Fialho, daughter Karen M. Rezendes-Tannehill, son-in-law Jon Tannehill, granddaughters, Molly Tannehill and Abigail Tannehill, her son John R. Rezendes, daughter-in-law Linda Kerley-Rezendes, grandsons Johnny Rezendes, Joseph Rezendes, and James Rezendes, her daughter Sharon L. Rezendes, and grandsons’ mother Julie Rezendes.
At the age of 15 after a volcano erupted on the island of Faial, she traveled to the United States to live with her sister Stella in Oakland, California. Soon after, she married the love of her life, Paul Rezendes, and had three children. As a family they traveled throughout the United States from Cape Cod, Boston, New York, New Jersey, and Washington D.C. to extended trips across all of the western states, Canada, and Mexico. She also visited Hong Kong, Macau, and China.
Maria do Carmo began her professional career in banking as a teller. She completed an intensive program in banking and finance through the University of California, Los Angles (UCLA). She had a very successful career and was promoted to a Vice President of Bank Operations for bank branches throughout the Bay Area. After retiring she went on to do tax preparation and care for her grandchildren.
After Paul Rezendes passed away, she married Antonio Montelindo and continued to travel the world, including long visits to the Azores each summer. Her travels took her from Portugal, to all over Europe, the United States, Russia, Scandinavia, and the Panama Canal. In addition to her passion for travel, she loved to spend time with her many friends and her family in both the United States and in Portugal.
She encouraged and inspired her children and grandchildren to pursue their dreams. She shared every success and set-back with them and always had the wisdom to help them take on this world.
Maria do Carmo touched all of our lives in so many ways and her legacy lives on in the lives of her three children, five grandchildren, her sister, and many nieces and nephews. We miss her too much for words and love her with all our hearts.
Donations in honor of Maria do Carmo Rezendes Montelindo may be made to the Portuguese Organization for Social Services and Opportunities (POSSO), 1115 East Santa Clara Street, San Jose, California 95116, 408-293-0877.
Please click on the following link to view the livestream on Wednesday, June 24th at 11am.
https://www.facebook.com/Willow-Glen-Funeral-Home-176730602345010/
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