Madalena De Moura

Madalena De Moura, a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at her home in Warren, surrounded by her loving family. She was 99 years old.

Born on January 2, 1926, in Bebedouro, Brazil, Madalena moved with her family to Portugal at the age of three, where she was raised and spent her formative years. In 1958, together with her devoted husband, Vicente, she immigrated to the United States, settling in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where they built a life rooted in love, hard work, and community.

In New Bedford, Madalena and Vicente raised their daughter and son, instilling in them the values of family, faith, and perseverance. A skilled and diligent seamstress, Madalena spent many years working in the garment industry at the Cliftex Corporation, where she helped craft men’s suits with care and precision.

Madalena was a woman of deep faith and an active parishioner of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. She rarely missed a Sunday Mass, and her devotion to the Catholic Church was a guiding force in her life. Her spirituality was matched by her joyful spirit—she loved to sing and dance, always bringing warmth and light to those around her.

She found immense joy in her garden and was still tending to her plants even at the age of 98. Her love for cooking was another way she expressed herself and cared for others, and her family will always remember the comforting meals she lovingly prepared.

Madalena was predeceased by her beloved husband, Vicente, and her cherished daughter, Mary Jo Cabral. She was also preceded in death by six siblings. She is survived by her loving son, Joseph De Moura, and his wife Annie; her grandchildren, Danielle De Moura and Mark Cabral; and her dear sister, Maria Baptista dos Santos.

Family and friends are invited to pay their respects during a visitation on Wednesday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung, New Jersey. A second visitation will be held in New Bedford, Massachusetts on Friday at Boulevard Funeral Home, 223 Ashley Blvd., prior to the funeral Mass from 8:30-10:30am, which will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church in New Bedford at 11am. Madalena will be laid to rest following the Mass at Pine Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Madalena’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to a charity of your choice.

Madalena’s life was marked by love, resilience, and faith. She will be remembered for her kind heart, her generous spirit, and the joy she brought into the lives of all who knew her.