Obituary of Maria Goncalves

Maria Gonçalves, 76, of Union was called home on Thursday January 5, 2023 at Overlook Hospital in Summit. She was born in Portugal and came to the United States with her family in 1989. She dedicated her life to her husband and raising her three sons in the faith. She moved back to her home town in Estorãos, Fafe where she has been residing since her retirement. She traveled back to the U.S. every year to spend the holidays and every important occasion with her 3 sons and 4 granddaughters. Maria, aka "Micas" (as she was affectionately known by her sons and close family and friends) will be greatly missed by her husband of 52 years, Manuel Rocha Gonçalves and her 3 sons; Reverend Nuno Rocha, Sérgio Rocha and wife Natália (Rodrigues) and Patrício Rocha and wife Sonia (Rodrigues). She also leaves behind her 4 beautiful granddaughters, Ivette, Leah, Melanie and Maya, who were the light of her life. Maria Gonçalves was a strong, prayerful woman of faith who dedicated a great part of her days to prayer. She was spirit-filled, generous and hospitable and her perseverance is an example to so many. Her legacy will live on in the hearts of many and through the lives of her beloved children and grandchildren. When the mother of a priest arrives at the gates of Heaven, she is accompanied directly to our Lord. Our Lord will say to her, "I have given you life. What have you given me? " She will hand over the maniturgium (white linen cloth used to clean her son's hands after having been consecrated and given to her at his first mass) and then answer, "I gave you to my son as a priest." And with that Jesus grants her entry into paradise. We owe her an immense debt of gratitude for that gift to us and pray that she is welcomed into the arms of our Father in Heaven. Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let Your perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed. Rest in peace. Amen. Funeral Rites will take place in her home town in Portugal with family and close friends. We thank you for your prayers and support and ask that you respect the privacy of the Rocha family as they prepare to accompany their loved one to her final resting place. A memorial mass will be held at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Elizabeth with the date and time to be announced next week on the funeral home website at afschmidtfuneral.com and announcements will be made at the church for those interested in attending at that time. In lieu of flowers, the Rocha family kindly requests anyone interested in making a contribution, please consider making a donation to an organization which was very close to Maria's heart: The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (Sociedade de São Vicente de Paulo) which is dedicated to assisting the poor. Donations can be sent directly to the parish for the organization and can be mailed or dropped off. Checks can be made payable to "Society of Saint Vincent de Paul" and can be mailed to Our Lady of Fatima Church, 403 Spring Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07201. Your support is greatly appreciated. She will be missed by everyone that was blessed to know her, especially her family. Please keep the Rocha Family in your prayers.