Maria Conceicao Sousa-Costa

Maria Conceicao Sousa-Costa 88, resident of Rio Dell, passed away peacefully on Tuesday October 21, 2014 at her present home, Ginger's Loving Care Home, in Eureka surrounded by her families watchful eye. She was a member of St Patrick's Catholic Church in Scotia and belonged to several Portuguese Fraternal Societies and Lodges. Maria Conceicao, the oldest of six girls, was born May 06, 1926 in the town of Santa Barbara, island of Terceira, the archipelago of the Azore Islands, Portugal, to Francisco and Adelaide Pires. She married Manuel F. Costa on June 17, 1951 in Santa Barbara, Terceira. They purchased their home and started their family. Manuel worked at the American Air Base in Lajes, Terceira and Maria Conceicao stayed at home raising what then had become their first four daughters. Manuel was concerned that someday the Americans might close the air base and he wanted to give his young family a better future, therefore the family immigrated to the United States in September 1961, arriving in Boston, Massachusetts on October 3, 1961. Maria Conceicao left with her Mother and five sisters, carrying only what they could fit in their suitcases and leaving behind their home and all their worldly possessions. Manuel no longer had any family in Terceira because he did not marry until his parents passed away and his six siblings were living on the New England Coast of America. The family spent two weeks on the East Coast with Manuel's siblings, then traveled to California to the Central Valley to spend a couple weeks with his sister Eva before he was summoned by his brother Luis Costa to come to Humboldt County. The family continued on their journey arriving in Rio Dell late October just in time for their daughters to experience their very first Halloween. Two years after they arrived, their fifth daughter Linda was born making her the only one American born and bringing great joy to her parents and being totally fussed over by her four older sisters. Maria Conceicao was a stay-at-home mom sewing and making all of her daughters dresses including two wedding dresses and all brides maids' dresses for the five weddings. She never sat for a moment because if she wasn't sewing she was cooking, canning from their huge vegetable garden or baking her bread and the traditional Portuguese sweet bread. But her biggest love was tending to her indoor plants which were in excess of 200 plants while Manuel cared for the outdoors. Shortly after they arrived in the United States, they wanted to assimilate and embrace their new country and therefore, not speaking a word of English, she studied and memorized the United States Constitution and took the exam to become an American Citizen. With great pride from their daughters and friends, they became citizens seven years after they arrived making their Portuguese born daughters Naturalized Citizens. After her hard work, she was able to sponsor two of her married sisters to also immigrate to the United States. Family and her Catholic faith were the most important things in her life. Maria Conceicao left her mother and sisters in her home country to give her daughters the best opportunity the United States could offer them, placing her family before her own desires. She instilled a strong sense of family to her five daughters and formed a bond that transferred to her son-in-laws, twelve grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is survived by her five daughters: M. Manuela Enes (close friend Harry Beason), Maria Sao Riddle (Steve)of Fortuna, Eva M Adams (Jon) of McKinleyville, M. Natal Chadwell (Clayton) of Arcata, Linda Costa-Franklin (Brian) of Ferndale; grandchildren: Sheila Enes-Hall (Brian) of Rio Dell, Rachelle Riddle (Patrick Knight) of Redding, Ryan & Redmond Riddle of Fortuna, Erika Adams of Crescent City, Travis & Holly Adams of McKinleyville, Chelsey & Christopher Chadwell of Arcata, LCpl Tay Franklin of Cherry Point, North Carolina, Briceland Franklin of Chico, Keelan Franklin of Ferndale, Brianna & Miranda Hall of Rio Dell; sisters: Avelina Pires and Maria Joan Barcelos (Nelson); brother-in-law Jose Mendonca of Terceira, Azores; sister-in-law M. Carmela Costa of Eureka; cousins Linda Freitas, Natal Mendes and Joe E. Enes and other cousins in California and Terceira, Azores & nieces & nephews in the Azore Islands & Portugal. She was preceded in death by her husband Manuel F. Costa who passed away June 17, 2008 on their 57th anniversary; parents Francisco & Adelaide Pires; sisters Alice Cunha (Albert), Natal Mendonca and M. Adelaide Mendes (Jose de Sousa); her father and mother-in-law Jose F and Olinda da Costa; brothers-in-law Joe, Tony & Luis Costa; sisters-in-law Mary, Angelina and Eva. A heartfelt thank you and love to Ginger Tremblay of Ginger's Loving Care Home and her staff Donna Bellairs, Carla Olson and Gail Pittman who gave so much love and affection in her care for the last six months of her life; to Hospice, the wonderful caring RN's, Social Workers, Therapist and supportive staff. Friends and family are all invited to a viewing at Goble's Fortuna Mortuary on Friday, October 24, 2014 from 12 noon to 7:00 pm with the recital of the rosary at 7:00 pm. Mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday October 25, 2014 at 10:00 am at St Patrick's Catholic Church in Scotia, Ca. officiated by Fr. Thom Dias, followed by burial at Sunrise Cemetery in Fortuna. A reception will follow at the Multi-Generational Center at 2280 Newburg Road in Fortuna. Arrangements are under the care of Goble's Fortuna Mortuary, 560 12th Street, Fortuna, California.

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