Maria Carolina Cardoso

Born in Fajã dos Vimes, São Jorge, Açores on August 18, 1935, Maria was the daughter of Adelia Ricardina Sousa Azevedo and Antonio Gonçalves Azevedo. On September 24, 1958, she married her devoted husband, Manuel Armelim Cardoso, who preceded her in death on June 19, 2023. A woman of deep Catholic faith, Maria was a devoted parishioner of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Hilmar, California.

Maria is survived by her six sons: Armelim Cardoso (Odelta), Tiberio Cardoso (Maria), Manuel Cardoso (Tina), and Elio George Cardoso, all of Delhi; Frank Cardoso (Michelle) of Turlock; and Albert Cardoso of Delhi. She is also survived by her siblings: Georgina Gomes of Hilmar, Conceição Azevedo of Arizona, and Mario Azevedo of Ceres.

Her legacy continues through her grandchildren: Roger Cardoso, Sara Beutner, Zachery Cardoso, Lisa Cardoso, Tiberio Cardoso, Carolina Leguria, Forrest Cardoso, Grace Cardoso, Elio Cardoso, Melissa Borges, Krystal Miller, Jillian Garcia, Sara Cardoso, and Megan Jantz, as well as her 15 great-grandchildren.

Maria was preceded in death by her husband, Manuel Armelim Cardoso; her parents, Antonio Gonçalves Azevedo and Adelia Ricardina Sousa Azevedo; her brothers, Antonio Azevedo, José Azevedo, Ricardo Azevedo, and Tiberio Azevedo; her sisters, Maria Ricardina Cardoso and infant Georgina Azevedo; and her grandson, Matthew Johnson.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Whitehurst-Norton-Dias Funeral Service, 286 West Main Street, Turlock, California. The Rosary and Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at 10:00 AM at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 20263 American Avenue, Hilmar, California. Following the Mass, a committal service will take place at North Hilmar Cemetery, 8710 Tegner Road, Hilmar, California.

Serving as pallbearers will be Roger Cardoso, Matthew Beutner, Zachery Cardoso, Tiberio Cardoso, Forrest Cardoso, and Elio Cardoso.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Maria’s memory may be made to Spirit of Father Mata, a charitable organization that supports the Sisters of the Missionaries of the Poor, founded by Father Mata in Brazil to care for at-risk children and abandoned elderly women. Donations may be sent to:

Spirit of Father Mata

P.O. Box 3718

Turlock, CA 95381, USA