Maria Laura Estevao, 96, passed away peacefully, at the Georgian Bay General Hospital, Midland, on February 29, 2024, after a brief illness. She was born to humble and devout parents, Ezequiel Carvalho Miranda and Alexandrina do Couto, in 1927, in Ribeirinha, Sao Miguel, Acores. Arriving in Canada, Cambridge (Galt) in 1965, with her husband Arthur and three children, she adapted quickly to her journey as a new immigrant, even taking night classes to become fluent in English. Having been a homemaker in her native Portugal, she felt somewhat intimidated by the work prospects ahead. But she rose to the occasion, becoming the first Portuguese woman to work on the knitting machines at the Silknit Textile Factory in Hespeler, and later at Tiger Brand Knitting Co. Her positive work ethic made her a natural advocate for many fellow Portuguese to obtain positions in the factories, being always eager to help them, and share a Portuguese treat at lunch time. Maria Laura had a child-like heart, and especially enjoyed her great-grandchildren. Her love of the Faith, combined with travelling and socializing took her on many trips to Holy Shrines around the world, especially her favourite: Fatima, Portugal. With a gentle spirit, curious nature and great memory for places and people, she made friends easily wherever she went. She loved the Lord Jesus Christ, and held a special devotion to His mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Her Catholic Faith was the centre of her life, and it expressed itself in acts of spontaneous generosity. We are grateful to God for so many things about her: she passed the Faith on to us, she was a doting mom, who made the best soups, attracting everyone home for visits. Predeceased by her faithful husband Arthur (1982), she will be greatly missed by her three children: Victor(Cindy), Isabel(Allan), and Aida; also her five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren (Ezra, deceased). Also predeceased by her eldest sister Bernardete, and brothers Francisco and Ilidio. She will be remembered by her sisters Alda, Zelia, Liete and brothers Dinarte and Gualter, as well as extended family in Sao Miguel Azores, Canada, and the U.S. She received Last Rites, making the signs of the Cross. A funeral Mass will be offered at St. Clement’s Church in Preston, on Wednesday, March 6th, at 1:30 followed by Catholic Rite of Committal, with interment at Parklawn Cemetery, Cambridge, section 8-A.
Mom: “You’re not going somewhere strange;
you’re going back home to the heart of God.”
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon her.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Cambridge Right to Life https://cambridgerighttolife.ca or Euthanasia Prevention Coalition https://epcc.ca
