Maria (Mendonca) Avelar

Maria (Mendonca) Avelar, 94, a longtime resident of Stoughton, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, August 30, 2023 surrounded by her loving family. She was the wife of the late Rufino S. Avelar. Daughter of the late João Filipe and Olivia (Leonardo) Mendonca, she was born and raised in Santa Cruz das Flores, Azores, Portugal. Maria came to the United States in 1959 and settled in California before moving to Stoughton in 1968. She was an assembler at Datel in Mansfield for many years before retiring at age 65. She was active at the Club Luis de Camoes Feast of the Holy Spirit and a member of the Azorian Holy Spirit Feast. She enjoyed knitting and puzzles but her greatest joy was spending time with her family.

Maria is survived by her children, Armanda M. Knitter and Rufino “Finny” Avelar and his wife Gail all of Stoughton. She was the grandmother of Neal Mello, Thomas Mello, Janice Hom, Adam Avelar and the late Michael Avelar and the great-grandmother of Sydney Mello, Rufino Mello, Sonny Mello, Darren Hom, Daniel Hom, and Dakota Hom. She was the sister of the late Julia Costa, Olivia Lima, and Felipe Mendonca. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Funeral will be held from the Farley Funeral Home, 358 Park St. (Rt. 27) Stoughton on Wednesday, September 6 at 9:30 AM followed by a Funeral Mass at Immaculate Conception Church, Stoughton at 10:30 AM. Visiting Hours Tuesday from 5-7 PM. Interment will take place at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Stoughton.