Maria Fatima (Barbosa) Simao

FALL RIVER… Maria Fatima (Barbosa) Simao, 72, of Fall River was called home to heaven in the arms of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on December 20th, 2020 at Carney Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.

She was the loving wife of Jose M. Simao. She was also known to many, as Vavo, who came into her presence and who she also welcomed and opened her door to.

Born in Ponta Delgada, St. Michael, Azores, she was a daughter of the late Antonio and Gilda (Cabral) Barbosa.

She had lived and worked most of her life in Fall River.

Mrs. Simao was a longtime communicant of the former St. Anne’s Church and more recently of Good Shepherd Parish in Fall River.

She was a loving homemaker whose most cherished times were partaking in family get-togethers for the sole purpose of keeping her family together, as she most enjoyed.

She enjoyed telling stories while cooking and teaching her children of their Portuguese heritage and cuisine. As well as traveling to visit her husband’s expansive family in Canada and always being able to see and spend time with her “MOSCA”, she loved and always spoke of the time, she was able to go and visit Bermuda with her children on a cruise and also spending time with her “BIG MAMMA” & her Tia Adelina.

She fought and battled illnesses for quite some time, but persevered/endured these illnesses until she took her last breath while looking at the statue of Sacred Heart of Jesus at her most favorite location: La Salette Shrine located in Attleboro, MA during her last Zoom call with her family.

Along with her husband, survivors include her children & their spouses: Kathleen Arruda & Husband Paulo, Jo-Ann Kershaw & Husband Kevin, Bruce J. Simao & Tracy, the late Michael Simao & Chip, Scott Simao & His Wife Lucy, Jason Simao & Brian, Joshua T. Simao & His Wife Kayla; her animals whom she loved: the late Nakita, & Rocky all of Fall River; her siblings: Filomena Do Rego & Luis, Joseph “Zacka” Barbosa & Cathy and Anna Andrade & Ernest, also of Fall River; her 9 grandchildren & their spouses: Christopher & Ashley, Stephanie & Eric, Emilio & Brittny, Kayla & Taylor, Nicholas, Brett, Tori & Dean, Jade, & Sage; her 11 great grandchildren: Kobe, Alandria, Aaliyah, Lilah, CJ, Laila, Alana, Devin, Logan, Kayden, & Blake; several aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Maria's name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 or www.stjude.org/donate.

Visitation to which relatives and friends are invited will be held Saturday, January 16th, 2021 from 6 PM – 8 PM at the Oliveira Funeral Home, 2064 South Main St. Fall River, MA 02724, followed by a funeral service at 8 PM.