Maria Azevedo

Maria Isaura Azevedo was recently reunited with her husband, Ricardo, on August 15, 2016.

Maria was born to Maria and Inacio Sousa at their home in the Faja dos Vimes, Soa Jorge Acores, on August 14, 1939.

She was one of nine brothers and sisters and, as a child, her and her siblings were closest friends working and playing together. Growing up in a small town, she met and eventually loved Ricardo Azevedo and they were married on June 17, 1963.

Due to her father-in-law volunteering for the United States Army in WWI, Ricardo was granted United States Citizenship. Seeking a better life for his new bride, they moved to California and settled as dairy farmers in 1963. Maria went through the process of learning to speak and write in English, became a U.S. citizen and acquired her driver's license. Not long after, they set out on the journey of raising their own family. They were blessed with three children, Richard, Jean and David. Although her and her family were on the path of being lifelong dairy farmers, she held several jobs at various locations, working for years to gain extra income. She rarely, if ever, took any time off or even rested. If she was awake, she was being productive doing odd jobs around the house, cooking, cleaning or helping outside on the dairy. One of her many traits was that of a hard, hard worker.

In 1994, She and Ricardo moved the dairy business and their family to settle in Buhl, Idaho. This is where their family grew by the addition of nine grandchildren. Maria and Ricardo were members of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Buhl, and were also active in the IDES of Buhl.

She found extreme joy in living on, and helping Ricardo maintain their Dairy. She also enjoyed watching her grandchildren transform into young men and women. Ricardo worked on the dairy until his last days, and when he was called home in the summer of 2011, Maria deeply struggled with the loss of her best friend. Although she did find some comfort in her remaining friends, and especially her family, her heart would never be whole again.

Over the last few years, Maria's health began to betray her. She had several extensive battles with cancer and pneumonia and, staying true to her nature, she and her family fought through each and every battle together, side by side. However, as hard as she fought, she recently succumbed to related complications, and was graciously called to Heaven. We had just celebrated her 77th birthday and in her own words, it was a "Good, Good, Day!" (Dia muito bom!)

Maria is survived by her three children, Richard (Glenda) Azevedo, Jeannie (Matt) Harrison and Dave (Kala) Azevedo; her brothers, Frank (Maria) Sousa and Fernando (Maria) Sousa; her sisters, Christine Gomes, Maria Victorino, Herminia (John) Inacio and Olinda (Manuel) Silva and her nine grandchildren, Courtney, Matthew, Austin, Kyra, Adriana, Eli, Kindra, Zackery and Brady.

She was preceded by her husband, Ricardo; her parents, Inacio and Maria Sousa and two sisters, Rosa Dias and Etelvina Fontes.

A funeral mass will be held in Maria's honor at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 19, 2016 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Buhl. There will be a viewing starting at 6:00 p.m. and a reciting of the rosary at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 18, 2016, also at the Catholic Church. There will be a committal service immediately following the mass at the West End Cemetery in Buhl, Idaho. Arrangements are under the guidance of Farmer Funeral Chapel of Buhl.