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In Loving Memory of Maria Ricardina Cardoso Beloved Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, and Great-Great-Grandmother 1930 – 2025 With broken hearts and profound love, we announce the passing of our beloved mother, our mãe, Maria Ricardina Cardoso, at the age of 94. A woman of deep faith, boundless love, and unwavering strength, Mãe was the heart of our family and the foundation upon which generations have grown and flourished. Born in Fajã dos Vimes, São Jorge, Azores, Mãe and our Pai courageously left their homeland to build a better life for their children in America. Their dream became a reality through sacrifice, perseverance, and unconditional devotion. Mãe took immense pride in her family, celebrating our successes with joy and providing strength, comfort, and grace during moments of hardship. Kind, compassionate, considerate, and generous, Mãe always placed the needs of others above her own. Her generosity was especially touching—she gave all she had, even when she had little. As the Gospel says in Mark 12:41-44, “She gave out of her poverty, all she had to live on.” She possessed a most beautiful heart and lived a life rooted in love and faith. Her devotion to God, Jesus, and Nossa Senhora (her Madrinha) was the center of her being. She often hoped it would be Nossa Senhora who would escort her to heaven, where she would see the face of God. A devout Catholic, Mãe gently encouraged others to join—or return to—the Church. From the founding of Our Lady of the Assumption Portuguese Catholic Church in Turlock, she attended with her husband and young children. It was there that several of her children received the sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation, and where she and Pai joyfully celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. Following Pai’s passing, Mãe left their rural Modesto dairy home of 17 years and moved into town with her children and became a parishioner of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Modesto. She was a dedicated member of the Eucharistic Adoration group, and even when she could no longer attend in person, her prayer life remained vibrant. She prayed multiple rosaries daily, often through YouTube. She loved praying with Mother Angelica of EWTN, but her greatest joy came from reciting the Terço a Nossa Senhora de Fátima via livestream from the Capelinha das Aparições. Mãe was deeply blessed to receive home and hospital visits from Father Manuel Sousa, also from her native Fajã dos Vimes, who administered the sacraments of Communion, Confession, and the Anointing of the Sick. In the sacred tradition of her own mother, Mãe became a Carmelite of the Third Order. In her later years, she returned to São Jorge to participate in the Novena de Nossa Senhora do Carmo, proudly wearing her Carmelite habit on the final day and joining in the procession. Her last pilgrimage was in 2019 at the age of 89—a treasured moment in her life. Above all, Mãe’s greatest earthly joy was being a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother. She adored the babies and cherished every generation. Her legacy of courage, integrity, devotion, and joy will continue through the lives she nurtured and shaped. Mãe’s grit and determined spirit kept our family united through life’s hardest trials. Her strength, faith, and love will guide us until we meet again in heaven. Though our hearts ache with her absence, we take comfort in knowing she has been lovingly brought home by the Lord and reunited with our dear Pai. Together, they now watch over the family they so dearly created, loved, and inspired. Our beloved Mãe will be missed beyond measure and remembered forever—with abiding love, deep gratitude, and everlasting reverence. Maria was preceded in death by her parents, Antonio and Adelia Azevedo; her husband, José Vasco Cardoso; her sons, Armenio Cardoso and Antonio Cardoso; her granddaughter, Jennifer Huggins; her great-grandson, Seely Hiett; her sons-in-law, Randy Huggins and Donathan Cruson; her brothers, José Azevedo, Antonio Azevedo, Ricardo Azevedo and Tiberio Azevedo; and her infant sister. Maria is survived by 11 of 13 children, Lydia Huggins, Joe and Reta Cardoso, Emanuel Cardoso, Natercia and Gordon Beamer, Tony Cardoso, Natalina Archambeault, Mary Carmen Cardoso, Rose Cardoso and Berthier Maciel, Ed Cardoso, John and Cathryn Cardoso, and Denise Cruson. She also leaves behind 16 of 17 grandchildren, Tina Huggins Waggoner, Angie Huggins Hukill, Randy “Billy” Huggins, April Tucker, Joey Cardoso, Manny Cardoso, Rick Spears, Amy Hiett, Lauren Beamer, Joseph Archambeault, Nick Archambeault, Nicole Cardoso, Kyle Cardoso, Jacee Cruson, Madalyn Cruson, and Tyler Cruson; 18 of 19 great-grandchildren, Cole, Hunter, Cody, Courtney, Elizabeth, Xavier, Julia, Savannah, David, Adellia, Jaiden, Elijah, Kalani, Ruby, Jocelyn, Gianna, Delilah, and Evelyn; 6 great-great-grandchildren, Maverick, Tyson, Stetson, Rylee, Oliver, Hazel; her sisters, Georgina Gomes, Conceição Azevedo, and Carolina “Carmelina” Cardoso; and her brother, Mario Azevedo. Services A viewing will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Turlock Funeral Home, 425 N. Soderquist Rd., Turlock, CA 95380. A recitation of the rosary and funeral Mass will take place on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, 2602 S. Walnut Rd., Turlock, CA 95380. Following Mass, Maria will be laid to rest at Turlock Memorial Park, 575 N. Soderquist Rd., Turlock, CA 95380. Maria Ricardina Cardoso loved flowers. She equally loved the Desert Nuns of Our Lady of Solitude Monastery in Tonopah, Arizona, with whom she began her very close relationship at Mother Angelica’s Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville, Alabama in the mid 1990’s. A donation to Our Lady of Solitude, Tonopah. Arizona in her honor would be an equally beautiful remembrance: desertnuns.com

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Maria Ricardina Cardoso

June 10, 1930 - May 11, 2025