Obituary of Cilia C. Batista

Cilia Batista, aged 67, passed away surrounded by her loving family on January 21, 2022, following a three-year courageous battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). While suffering from this debilitating illness, Cilia exuded unbelievable strength and resilience, accepting life’s challenges with grace and positivity.   Cilia was born on August 18, 1954 in Mannington Township, NJ to Afonso and Maria Laura De Matos Castanheira. Until the age of seven, she was raised in Penns Grove, NJ and later moved with her family to Portugal, where she spent her adolescence. On July 2, 1978, Cilia married José Carlos Batista in Parada, Carregal do Sal, Portugal, and the couple moved to Elizabeth, NJ. This home is where she raised her two children and resided for the rest of her life. Throughout most of her career, Cilia worked for different banking institutions but later transitioned to working for the Elizabeth Municipal Court for many years. Outside of her work for the City, she was driven to be an entrepreneur and proudly ran and operated her own business for almost 20 years. At the age of 65, she decided to retire with the hopes of spending more time with her beloved children and grandchildren.  Everyone who knew Cilia knew that she was a kind-hearted and generous woman with a youthful spirit. She loved to read, watch movies, travel, and spend summers in Portugal, preferably on her beach chair beside the ocean. Cilia deeply loved and lived for her family. She was truly an exceptional wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. Cilia is survived by her devoted husband, José Batista, son, Daniel Batista and his wife Dalia, daughter, Melissa Pedreiras and her husband Christopher, and her four grandchildren, Nicolas and Sophia Batista and Aurelia and Mateo Pedreiras as well as her extended family. Cilia is now at peace surrounded by light, reunited with her dear parents and sister. She will be forever loved and deeply missed.  Visitation at Funeral Home Visitation for Cilia Batista will be held on January 26, 2022 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm at August F. Schmidt Memorial Funeral Home, located at 139 Westfield Avenue, Elizabeth, NJ. All are welcome to attend.  Mass and Resting Place Funeral services will be held January 27, 2022 at 9:00 am at Our Lady of Fatima R.C. Church, located at 403 Spring Street in Elizabeth, NJ. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery, located at 1100 East Broad Street in Westfield, NJ.  Donations may be made in her memory to the ALS Association, als.org.