Maria dos Santos Martins Leite, 96, of Fairhaven passed away peacefully on May 25, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.

Born on March 23, 1929, she was the daughter of the late Antonio and Antonia (dos Santos) Martins. Maria was the beloved wife of the late Ernesto "Babe" Roderick Leite, with whom she shared a partnership overflowing with tenderness, laughter, and mutual respect, creating a haven for their family and friends.

Maria was a devoted mother to John Leite (and his wife, Maria Jose Duarte Leite) and Sandra Leite Burgo (and her husband, Kenneth J. Burgo Sr.). She is survived by her cherished sister Eugenia dos Santos (Martins) Martinho and was predeceased by her loving brother, Joaquim dos Santos Martins.

Known affectionately by her grandchildren and their families as "Cookie," "Santu," or "Vo Maria," she was an endlessly loving grandmother to April (Kevin), Tanya (Peter), Kenneth II (Aubrey), Abraham, Lena (Mitchell), Daniel (Natalie), and David (Indira). Her legacy of love extended to her sixteen great-grandchildren; Mia, Dan, Ashlee, Sean, Val, Max, Mackenzie, Kellen, Marcus, Kehli, Scarlett, Maria, Tej, Amelia, Bella, Solana, and by what she would say is nothing less than the grace of God, the great-great-grandchildren Remi, Stella, Ellie, and Stefan. Maria also held a special place in her heart for her nephew Antonio "Tony" Martinho (Ida), her niece Maria "Mitó" Santos (Rick), and great-nephews and great-nieces, Mark, James, Shaun, Sarah, Carla, and Karina.

Maria's life was a testament to her incredible roles as a wife, mother, and grandmother. She was an exceptional cook, whose meals were expressions of her nurturing love. More profoundly, Maria's life was defined by her unwavering faith. Her faith was a lived experience, not just words. It transcended the walls of her church, and she infused her family with the comfort and quiet confidence of a living Savior. By her example and guidance, in good times, we learned to thank God for His blessings, and in challenging times, we learned to seek the shelter of His arms. We came to understand that she does not have a religion, she has a relationship with the Father, and because of the way she lived through that relationship, we all, in our own ways, grew into our individual relationships with Him as well. It is that unshakable faith and knowledge of His promises that carry us all now, as we begin the almost unfathomable task of learning to navigate a world without her here, our North Star.

Maria dos Santos Martins Leite passed with breathtaking grace, leaving behind a legacy of love, faith, and cherished memories. Her family takes comfort in her often-shared words: "A Mighty God goes before us, making easy and perfect our way." She will be deeply missed by all whose lives she touched.

The family wants to give a heartfelt thank you to the wonderful and loving staff at Our Lady's Haven in Fairhaven for their kindness and support during Maria's final months.

In accordance with Maria's wishes, her celebration of life will be private. Following services, she will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband at Riverside Cemetery in Fairhaven.  Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals. 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett.