Maria A. De Brito, age 88, of New Bedford, died Sunday May 19, 2024, at home surrounded by her family.

Born in São Nicolau, Cape Verde, daughter of the late José Felipe Barreto and Antonia Maria De Brito, she lived in Dakar, Sénégal before moving to Providence, then New Bedford.

Devoted mother of Philomene Tavares of New Bedford, Gisèle Koenig of Providence, Albert Koenig of Providence.

Loving grandmother of nine grandchildren, Carine Tavares, Emmanuel Tavares, Cristabelle Tavares, Sarah Delgado, Micheal Delgado, Isabelle Delgado, Yanick Koenig, Rachelle Koenig , and Denise Koenig.

And nineteen great grandchildren: Jynessa, Aryanna, Alexander, Alivia, Oliver, Emmry, Jhiyani, Amilah Jade, Neko, Eva Luna, Cadence, Jeremiah, Aria, Paislee, Zoe, Milo, Adrian, Alioune, Mohamed.

Also survived by sisters Eugenia Barreto of Le Mans , France, and Francisca Barreto of Dakar, Sénégal; sister-in-law: Marie Madeleine Barreto of Dakar, Sénégal; cousins: Lucinda de Conceição, Maria A. De Brito, Maria de Fatima Conceição, Maria de Monte, and their children: Sylvie, Omar, Sidy, Djiby, Celina, Nita, Esmeralda; nephews and nieces: Eric, Muriel, Jean-Jacques, Frederic, Vanessa, Roselyne, Nilton, Isabelle, Monica, Rodrigue, Nicolas and Matthiew.

Maria was predeceased by her sister Maria Rosario Barreto and brother Philipe José Barreto.

As a medical secretary, she devoted 30 years to Aristide Le Dantec hospital in Dakar before retiring.

Maria loved cooking fine cuisine such as "pizza aux anchois," "baba au rum," "flan,", "tarte à la viande" and more delicate from the magazine "Femme d'aujourd'hui." In the US, she continued exploring cuisine such as her signature "pumpkin pie" among many other dishes and sweets. She also loved reading spiritual books and connecting with nature.

Her visiting hours will be held on Thursday, May 23, 2024, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, MA including a memorial tribute by family and friends at 7:00 pm.