BAPTISTA, Maria Guedes – Maria passed away at Centre d’Accueil Champlain nursing home in Ottawa on Saturday, September 26, 2026, in her 90th year. Maria battled many health problems in her life, from breast cancer, stroke, kidney and heart disease. As the matriarch of our family, she overcame many challenges and was able to be a great role model for all of us. Maria and her husband along with their five children immigrated to Canada in 1966. They settled in Ottawa and worked hard to have a better life for their children and family. Maria was a great organizer and an astute businesswoman, able to turn meager earnings into a comfortable lifestyle. She was the backbone of her family unit. Her sphere of influence gathered not only her family, but all those who came with it; i.e. friends, acquaintances and all. This was best shown through the power of her meals.
Beloved wife of the late Evaristo. Loving mother of Alda (John), Armando (Amy), the late Angelo (Francine), Olivia (Jim), Paulo (Jane). Cherished grandmother to Fernando, Sylvia (Stephen), Christina, Amalia, Ambrose, Aysia, Sonia (Ryan), Corina (Alex), Ali (Scott), Louis, Sebastien and Domenic (Shelby). Great grandmother to Emmett, Calvin, Selena, Alexandre, Azélea, Mila, Eva, Nora, Roméo, Nève, Camille and Zoé. Predeceased by her brothers Manuel, António and Armando. Maria will be sadly missed by her sisters, Rosa and Zaida, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Friends and family will be received at the Beechwood National Memorial Centre – 280 Beechwood Ave., Vanier, ON K1L 7P4, Canada on Saturday, October 24, 2026 from 9:00am until 11:00am with a funeral service beginning at 11:00am.
As expressions of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada or another charity of your choice, would be appreciated by the family.
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