Rosa Fatima Fagundes, age 89, of Hilmar, California passed away on Monday, September 20, 2021 surrounded by her loving family. Rosa was born October 13, 1931 in Santa Barbara, Terceira, Acores to Maria de Jesus Ribeiro and Mateus Alexandre Rocha. Rosa's mother died when Rosa was four year's old. Her father Mateus married Maria da Esperanca Toste Rocha and they raised the five children and together had two more children.
Rosa was devoted to her family and worked hard to provide for them along with her husband Francisco. She was a seamstress in Fonte do Bastardo (Azores) and taught many the trade of sewing. When the family moved to the United States, Rosa worked many jobs to make ends meet; worked in canneries, cleaning houses, and anything that could bring in a few extra dollars; no job was too small. Her favorite pastime was spending time with her family, sewing, and knitting. In her early days of marriage she loved to read, stories about the saints, especially women saints, and liked to read a bit of fantasy, such as “romances o caprichos”. Rosa instilled in her family the importance of daily prayer, devotions and the frequent receival of the sacraments. Interestingly, she forgot many things, but until the end, she didn’t forget how to pray and had many favorite prayers memorized.
Rosa showed her children and grandchildren the importance of helping those in need. There are many memories of growing up and having permanent house guests on a regular basis, whether it was nieces, nephews or complete strangers, there was never a shortage of food and beds to help someone in need.
Rosa is survived by her three daughters; Filomena Fagundes (Juan Juarez) of Fresno; Luci Silveira (Angelo) of Gilroy; Estelle Coelho (Jose Gabriel) of Hilmar. Her two sisters; Ines Toste (Josezinho) and Neves Lopes of Gilroy. Grandchildren; Robert Barcelos, O.C.D., Marc Coelho (Lindsay), Alexandria Silveira Diaz (Gaston), Angela Laines (Denny), Michael Coelho (Riley), Frankie Silveira, Cristian Juarez. Great grandchildren: Gabriel, Madeline, and Samuel Coelho, Paul and Tiago Laines, Leo Coelho (and one boy on the way) and Noah Diaz (and one boy on the way).
Rosa was preceded in death by her spouse Francisco Fagundes; her father Mateus Alexandre Rocha, her mother Maria de Jesus Ribeiro; her step mother, Maria da Esperanca Toste Rocha, her four brother's Jose, Manuel, Mateus and Laurentino Rocha and her sister Maria Pinheiro.
Rosa was a member of St Mary's Catholic Church in Gilroy for many years and Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Hilmar for the past 16 years. Rosa was a member of Rainha Santa Isabel in Hilmar and a Third Order Carmelite, O.C.D.S..
A recitation of the rosary followed by funeral mass for Rosa will be celebrated by her grandson Fr. Robert Barcelos, O.C.D. on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at 10:00 AM at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 8471 Cypress Street, Hilmar, CA 95324. (We kindly ask that COVID-19 Protocols are followed and masks are worn for those who attend the funeral service.)
Following the funeral mass, a committal service will be held at North Hilmar Cemetery at N. Hilmar Cemetery District, 8710 N. Tegner Road, Hilmar, CA 95324
Serving as pallbearers (grandchildren) Fr. Robert Barcelos, O.C.D., Marc Coelho, Alexandria Silveira Diaz, Angela Laines, Michael Coelho, Frankie Silveira and Cristian Juarez.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.whitehurstnortondiasfunerals.com for the Fagundes family.
