Born in the Azores, the daughter of the late Manuel and Gloria Soares, she had resided in Fairhaven for over 30 years.
Mrs. DeMelo was a talented cook who worked in several area restaurants and Fairhaven schools.
She was a communicant of the former St. John the Baptist Church in New Bedford.
Her family includes her daughter, Nelia Harrington of Dartmouth; her sons, Norbert DeMelo and his wife Patricia of Blue Rapids, Kansas and George DeMelo of Sparta, New Jersey; her grandchildren, Sheri, Jordan, Sean and Alexandra; and her great grandson, Seth.
Her Funeral will be held on Wednesday, December 4, 2013 at 9am from the Waring-Sullivan Home of Memorial Tribute at Dartmouth, 230 Russells Mills Rd., Dartmouth followed by a Funeral Mass at 10am in St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Rd., Dartmouth. Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday from 5-8pm. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in Fairhaven. In lieu of flowers, donations in Maria’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942.
