Maria A. (Vieira) Martins

Maria A. (Vieira) Martins, 86, a longtime resident of Lowell, died unexpectedly Monday, January 2 at Northwood Rehabilitation and Nursing Home in Lowell.

Maria, daughter of the late Manuel and Rosa (Vieira) Areias, was born in Terceira, Azores Portugal on April 3, 1925 and immigrated to the United States in 1967. She was a stitcher at the former Nathan Solomon Co. in Lowell prior to her retirement in 1982. Her beloved husband, Joseph A. Martins, died in 1973.

Maria was a communicant of St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Lowell and volunteered with the Holy Ghost Society and Holy Trinity Society. She worked with her son at Martins' Fish Market in Lowell and traveled back and forth to Portugal extensively. Above all, her family and grandchildren were the great joy of her life and they were a source of great pride to her.

Maria will be sadly missed by her sons; Joseph A. Martins, Jr. and his wife Maria of Tewksbury, Mateus V. Martins and his wife Isilda of Pelham, New Hampshire and John V. Martins and his wife Helen of Lowell, one brother-in-law, Manuel Nunes of Lowell and one sister-in-law, Margarida Areias of Lowell, seven grandchildren; Dilia Melo and her husband John, Susana Martins, Sonia Kukler and her husband Joe, Mateus Martins, Jr., Jonathan Martins, Christina Martins and Stephanie Martins, one great granddaughter, Olivia Melo and many nephews and nieces.