MARIA JARDELINA CORDEIRO

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MARIA JARDELINA CORDEIRO

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Maria Jardelina Cordeiro, after a brief illness, at the age of 87 years.
Maria was predeceased by her husband, Carlos Cordeiro, her grandson Steve Martins, and her siblings, Hermano Botelho, Delfina Botelho and Maria Dos Anjos Costa.
Maria leaves to cherish her memory her daughters, Fernanda (Arthur) Martins and Leonor (Françisco) Pontes; son Joao Carlos (Iris) Cordeiro; grandchildren, Rodger (Nicole), Charles (Pauline), Christie (John), Christopher (Anne), James (Paola), and great-grandchildren, Azura, Dominic, Chelsea, Nathanael, Zendrik, Benicio and Maxelo. She is also survived by her sisters, Conceiçao Duarte and Isabel (Joao) Cunha, as well as numerous godchildren, nieces, nephews and extended family in Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Portugal.
Maria was born in Sao Roque, Sao Miguel, Açores on September 1, 1932. She immigrated to Winnipeg in 1968 with her husband and young family to start a new life. She worked at Wescott Fashions for many years where she made lifetime friends. Even after she retired, she kept in touch with them. She was very talented at handicrafts and an excellent cook and baker. In the evenings, while watching her beloved RTP, Maria enjoyed knitting and spent hours on end making scarves, blankets and slippers that she would gift to everyone. She looked forward to the holidays and took great pride in her presépio under her Christmas tree and making her delicious massa sovada at Easter. She had a green thumb and was so proud of her indoor plants and garden. She would grow a lush vegetable garden every summer complete with heirloom tomatoes and couves for her "Sopinhas Requinhas" (cute soup), as she would call it.
Maria loved going out and would drop everything and get ready quickly to go to a store like "Saco Amarelo" (Giant Tiger). She enjoyed the Portuguese festas, especially the ones where the Banda Lira de Fátima would perform, which her husband played in for many years. Maria is remembered as being friendly with a big sense of humour. Wherever she went, she made a friend. She had many friends that would call and check in on her over the years who she held very dear to her heart.
Maria was a long time parishioner of Immaculate Conception Parish and towards the end of her life, when she could no longer attend, she enjoyed watching the Missas on You Tube. Thank you to the people who made this possible. She was also a member of the Legiao de Maria, which she would attend faithfully every Wednesday. Her strong religious faith carried her throughout life and her family would like to extend a big thank you to all her friends who made it possible for her to continue to go to church and other events in her later years.
Special thanks to the staff at Seven Oaks Hospital, Grace Hospital and St. Norbert Personal Care Home for the special care and compassion she received during the last few months of her life.
Due to recent events in the world, a private service for immediate family will be held at Assumption Cemetery, presided by Padre André Lico.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, www.heartandstroke.ca/get-involved/donate, a charity that was dear to Maria, after she lost her husband to heart disease.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 22, 2020