Mrs. Mariana de Sousa

Obituary

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Mariana (de Viveiros Miranda) De Sousa, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at the age of 100. She passed away peacefully, just days shy of her 101st birthday.

Mariana was born on September 18, 1924, in the small town of Ajuda de Bretanha, Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal. She was the loving daughter of the late Manuel de Viveiros Miranda and Maria da Costa Pimentel.

She was predeceased by her devoted husband of 66 years, Guilherme Benevides De Sousa (married January 30, 1954). In 1959, Mariana courageously immigrated from São Miguel to Toronto, Canada, with two young children to reunite with her husband. Together, they built a new life, filled with hope for a brighter future and opportunities for their family.

Mariana worked for 25 years at Gould Shawmut Company, making electrical fuses. She had a passion for gardening and was well known for her delicious homemade rice pudding, Portuguese malasadas, and sweet bread. She will be remembered for her strength, generosity, and determination, as well as her outspoken and playful spirit. Above all, she was a devoted Catholic who faithfully attended Sunday Mass.

Mariana will be forever cherished and deeply missed by her four children:

Leonardo De Sousa (Connie “Soazinha” De Sousa); Dalia Pereira (Joe Pereira); Donaria (Nadia) Alves (Frank Libanio Goncalves); Nezia Rosa

She leaves behind six grandchildren:

Terry Pereira (Natasha Secan Pereira), Ian Pereira (Dustin Peters), Tanya De Sousa-Guinot (Richard Guinot), Bryan De Sousa (Melanie Smith De Sousa), Raquel Alves-Tinto (Matthew Tinto), and Shawn Rosa (Cassandra Na Rosa).

She was also blessed with six great-grandchildren: Phoenix, Rio, Aiden, Aynslee, Madison, and Luca.

Mariana is survived by her two sisters-in-law, Gilda Benevides de Sousa Silva of Ottawa and Lena Mary Miranda of Brazil, as well as many extended family members and friends.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to Louise, Andrea, Venilde, and Maria Elena for their dedicated care, as well as to all the PSWs, palliative care and hospice volunteers, doctors, and nurses for their compassion and support.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Mariana’s name to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or the Alzheimer Society of Canada would be greatly appreciated.

 

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