Obituaries

“Seja tudo para Graça de Deus.”

Those were the words of Maria Albertina Sousa, a faithful child of God, who passed into eternity on July 20, 2024. Albertina departed into God’s hands peacefully at home surrounded by family, and her beloved husband, Antonio Flores Sousa. Through her final days, Albertina, professed a deep desire to cooperate with God’s grace and give glory to Him. Spoken as a nurturing mother, caring grandmother, and loving wife she laid her flock into the hands of divine providence and said, “Be it all for the Grace of God.”

Albertina was born on March 30, 1940 in Urzelina, São Jorge, Açores to Utília Matos and Serafim Sousa. She was a devoted sister to nine siblings: Mercés, Celeste, Alberto, Etelvina, Ramiro, Beatriz, Vasco, João, and Filomena. While her parents worked hard on the farm-front of the island, Albertina stayed home and cared for her younger siblings. Even at this youthful age, Albertina’s commitment to family-service was prevalent. Today, many of her siblings reflect on the care they received by her hands as a memorable staple of their childhoods. When Albertina was not looking after her siblings, one could find her helping her mother run a full household.

While living in the small town of Urzelina, Albertina fell in love with Antonio Sousa. The two were brought into matrimonial union on October 7, 1964 by Fr. Antonio Brazil at Igreja de São Mateus, Urzelina. Their bond served as a wellspring of life, giving birth to Tony, Maria, Natal, and Frank, before immigrating to the United States in the summer of 1975. In 1977 they would give birth to their final child, Helena, in Hanford, CA. Albertina would later settle in Newark, CA with her husband and five children. The setting had changed from valley to suburb, but Albertina’s charitable ambitions remained constant. Albertina’s helping-hand was heavily involved within her local Portuguese community. As a couple, the Sousas contributed to the Filarmónica Recreio do Emigrante Português, the Portuguese-American Pastoral Cultural Center, and the Newark Pavilion. Most intimately and importantly, she labored tirelessly in the maternal service of her children, cooking out of love, and laying spiritual foundations of faith in the home.

Albertina’s greatest joy was her nine grandchildren. The walls of her home are adorned with pictures of Mikayla, Austin, Nicholas, Joshua, Allison, Calvin, Heather, Sebastian, and Jacob. To her, they were gifts of God’s grace and a testament of enduring faith and love. Albertina’s life will be remembered as one of great purpose here on earth. Through her deeds and prayerful intentions, she served many with a compassionate spirit and a discerning heart.