Maria Conceicao Marques

Early on the morning of December 28th, shortly after her 92nd birthday, Maria Conceicao Marques passed away peacefully at home. All feel comforted in knowing that she has been reunited with her husband Antonio. Maria formed strong connections with everyone in her life and will be greatly missed by both friends and family.  
Maria was born on November 15th 1931, in Vila Nova de Famaliçao, Portugal. In December of 1961 she moved to Canada, where she quickly created a community for herself and her family.  Throughout her lifetime, Maria held many jobs, including working at the London Psychiatric Hospital and Western University. The job, however, that she was proudest of was being a mother and a grandmother.  She will be greatly missed by her children Maria (Tony), Rosita, and Joe (Tanya). All ready missing Maria, are her beloved grandchildren Bailey (James); Paige, Serena (Daniel), Matthew, Sofia, Alida, and Katrina. 
Maria is survived by her brother Armindo (Fernanda) Costa; her in-laws Rita, Jose, Maria, and her extended family of twenty-two nieces, and nephews, thirty-five great-nieces and nephews, and her eight great-great-nieces and nephews all of whom live in Portugal. 
Maria was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, Antonio (2015), her parents Jose and Maria (Borges) Costa, her siblings and their spouses, Manuel (Conceicao), Antonio (Augusta), Balbina (Manuel), Abilio, Francisco (Emilia), her in-laws, Hermenejildo and Gracinda (Da Silva) Marques, Manuel, Ceu and Fernando, as well as four nieces and nephews. 
Maria lived a full life. She and her husband enjoyed many vacations across Canada, as well as in the United States and Mexico. They also enjoyed yearly visits to Portugal, where they were welcomed with open arms by their extended family and life-long friends. They were among the first parishioners of the Portuguese Catholic Parish (later merged with Holy Cross). They were long time members of the London Portuguese Club. Maria recently received her pin, recognizing her 25 years of service with the Catholic Women’s League.
Maria touched the lives of many, and her legacy will live on in the communities she has established and the people she has loved. The family would like to thank the staff at Maple View Terrace Retirement Home, as well as the First Responders who all treated Maria with the utmost dignity and care. 
Visitors will be received in the O’Neil Funeral Home, 350 William St., London on Tuesday, January 02, 2024, from 2:00 - 4: 00 p.m and 6:00 - 8: 00p.m.  The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Holy Cross Church,10 Elm St at Hamilton Rd, on Wednesday, January 03, 2024, at 11:00a.m. with visitation between 10:00am and 11:00am at Holy Cross Church. Entombment to follow  in St. Peter’s Cemetery, London.  Online condolences & Guest Book at www.oneilfuneralhome.ca
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to the Holy Cross Parish Parking Lot Fund, 10 Elm St, London, ON, N5Z 2K2, or the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation at www.heartandstroke.ca