Mary C. Mendonsa

Middletown,RI - Mary C. (Medeiros) Mendonsa, 90, of Middletown, died peacefully at the Grand Islander surrounded by her children on November 27, 2014Mary C. (Medeiros) Mendonsa was born on September 12, 1924 at her family's farmhouse in Middletown.She was married for 47 years to the late Manuel J. Mendonsa. She was the daughter of the late Jose and Mary Medeiros. She attended Middletown Schools, including historic Paradise and Weatherbee Schools, and graduated from Rogers High School in 1943.Upon graduation, she worked as a bookkeeper at Eddie's Market on Collins Street in Newport. The store was owned by her godparents. She worked there until she had her first child in 1950, and became a fulltime homemaker for the remainder of her life.Mary was very proud of Portuguese-American heritage. Her mother and she were active members of the Rhode Island Portuguese-American Civic League. Mary was the RI Chapter's treasurer for many years. She helped many friends and family members as they immigrated to the United States. Many of Mary's days were spent assisting people learn to drive, find housing, translating, and taking friends and family to doctor's appointments and treatments in Boston and Providence. She also served as a Portuguese-English translator for the Brazilian and Portuguese Tall Ships when they were in Newport.Mary is survived by her children Joseph A. Mendonsa of Swansea, MA and Valarie Mendonsa Tomaselli and her husband Joe of the Villages, FL. She is survived by her grandchildren, Nicole Treeman of Arnold, MD, Eric Mendonsa Treeman of Winter Park, FL, Andrew Mendonsa of Middletown, and Paul Mendonsa of Monterey, CA. Mary has four great grandchildren, Ariadne and Calista Treeman-Reinke, and Benjamin and Timothy Mendonsa. She was the sister of the late Joseph F. Medeiros Jr., Maria Medeiros, and Laura Medeiros.Her funeral will be held, Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at 9:00am from the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am in Jesus Saviour Church, Broadway And Vernon Avenue, Newport.Calling hours will be held Monday from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pmBurial will be in Newport Memorial Park in Middletown. Donations in her memory may be made to the Grand Islander Activities Fund, 333 Green End Avenue, Middletown, RI 02842 Cemetery Details Newport Memorial Park Vaucluse Avenue Middletown, RI, Visitation DEC 1. 04:00 PM - 07:00 PM Memorial Funeral Home 375 Broadway Newport, RI, US, 02840 info@memorialfuneralhome.com http://www.memorialfuneralhome.com Service DEC 2. 10:00 AM Jesus Savior Church Broadway at Vernon Ave Newport, RI, US, 02840