Maria Coelho's Obituary
Maria Manuela Ferreira Coelho ( January 23. 1940 – Septembre 5, 2025)
Maria was born in Vale de Cavalos, Chamusa, Portugal, an area known as the ‘Ribatejo’.
Daughter to Abel Marques Victoria and Antonieta Faustino Ferreira and sister to Afonso
Faustino Ferreira. A seamstress by trade, there she met and married Antonio Filipe Coelho,
a tailor.
Work brought them to Lisbon and in 1970 they immigrated to the United States with their
young daughter Isabel Coelho (Abreu) in search of a better life. They settled and made a
home for themselves in Philadelphia, PA among the large Portuguese community. In 1982
they had their second child Daniel Coelho.
A dedicated house wife and mother to two young children, Maria also managed to work
long arduous hours, in often poor working conditions as a seamstress in various factories
across the city.
In her free time, Maria loved to dance, listen to both ‘Fado’ and Elvis, spend endless days in
her garden tending to her plants and caring for her various pets. Over the years there were
chickens, rabbits, birds and cats. She loved to clean, to draw and make collages of images
that reminded her of her childhood.
She loved to laugh and her laugh was infectious. It would start gently and rise to a simmer.
She’d close her eyes, her head and body would move backwards, her hands would come
together, and then an eruption! It was pure joy that filled any room no matter how large.
Like a fingerprint, her laugh was distinctly unique.
Most of all she loved spending time with her family. Her children were the reason for every
breath she took, her reason for being and likewise her grandchildren; she loved them both
with all her heart. She also never forgot or stopped loving her parents and maternal
grandparents Manuel and Emilia Ferreira.
She is survived by her loving family; husband, Antonio, son Daniel, daughter Isabel,
grandsons Michael and Matthew and son-in law Jose Abreu.
A gathering of family and friends will be held this Friday, September 12th from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. at Givnish of Marlton 398 East Main Street.
Entombment at Lakeview Memorial Park, Cinnaminson, NJ will follow at 2 p.m.
What’s your fondest memory of Maria?
What’s a lesson you learned from Maria?
Share a story where Maria's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Maria you’ll never forget.
How did Maria make you smile?