MARIA NATALIA TAVARES GASPAR

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

MARIA NATALIA TAVARES GASPAR It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Mother and Grandmother on September 27, 2016 with both her daughters at her side. Natalia was predeceased by her parents, Angelo DeMelo and Irene Camara; her brothers, Urbano De Melo, Nicolau DeMelo and sister Natevidade DeMelo. She leaves to mourn her passing, daughter Natalie and Jose Diogo, daughter Fatima and Klaus Kostas; grandchildren, Jose Manuel and wife Leanne Diogo, Paul Edward and wife Fran Diogo, Michael Angelo and wife Lori Diogo, Mark Paul Kostas, Kristopher Manuel Kostas; great-grandchildren, Alisa Diogo, Brett Diogo, Riley Diogo, Sam Diogo, Jackson Diogo. She also leaves her sister Angela and Jose Eduardo Constantino (S. Miguel), sister-in-law Natalia DeMelo (Quebec), and many nieces, nephews and godchildren. Natalia Gaspar was born in the town of S. Braz in S. Miguel, Acores on November 17, 1928. She met and married her one and only true love Manuel Gaspar on December 19, 1953 in S. Miguel. A year later she had her first daughter Maria Natalia, better known as Natalie. After many requests from Natalie and a few years later they welcomed their second daughter Maria de Fatima. Natalia was a very talented baker and started to make wedding and birthday cakes for family and friends in S. Miguel. When she and her husband came to Canada in 1968 she continued to bake for family and friends and to this day people in the Portuguese community still refer to her as the lady that made the beautiful cakes. Mom took great joy and pride in helping her family, helping to raise all five of her grandchildren and the first of her two great-grandchildren. She had deeply missed her husband Manuel who passed away on October 8, 1999. We take comfort in knowing that she is now where she has wanted to be since that day. May the Lord our God bless you and take you into his arms alongside Dad where we know you are happy now. Many thanks to the homecare workers that have looked after mom for the last few years. Also many thanks to the wonderful staff at the Victoria General Hospital, Emergency and 5th floor nursing staff and doctors, for the care and compassion they showed Mom in the last week of her life. Prayers will be said on Friday, October 7 at 8:00 p.m. at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main Street. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday October 8 at 10:00 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church 181 Austin Street. Interment will follow at Assumption Cemetery. CROPO FUNERAL CHAPEL 204-586-8044

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 07, 2016