Maria Freire

Naugatuck, CT Maria A. Freire, 97, widow of Henrique Freire, died peacefully on August 1, 2024 in the VITAS Hospice Care Unit at St. Mary’s Hospital with loving family by her side.

Maria was born February 13, 1927 in Monte, Murtosa, Portugal the daughter of her late mother, Benvinda das Flores DaSilva and her step-father, Joao Aresta. Maria immigrated to the United States in 1945 and became a naturalized citizen. She lived in Naugatuck for almost 80 years and worked for 33 years at the footwear division of Uniroyal, Inc. before retiring. Maria was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of Clube Uniao Portuguesa in Naugatuck and a parishioner of St. Francis of Assisi Church. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother whom especially adored her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Her eagerness to keep an active lifestyle gave her the nickname “Hot to trot” with countless laps around the Naugatuck High School track for over 20 years. Her creative ingenuity left a lasting legacy, inspiring the next generation of her family.

Maria is survived by her son, John Freire and his wife Barbara Freire; her daughter, Isabel Freire Szalapski and her husband Eugene Szalapski; her grandchildren, Christina Moher and her husband Mark Moher and Abel H. Rodrigues and his wife Nicole Rodrigues; her great grandchildren, Olivia Moher, Collin Moher, Abel P. Rodrigues and Niko H. Rodrigues; her niece, Julie Cunha and her husband Joe Cunha. In addition to her husband and her parents, Maria was predeceased by her infant son, Carlos Henrique Freire, her brothers, Antonio and Carlos Amador, her nephew, Joe DaSilva and cousins, whom she was raised with, Joao, Carlos, and Domingos Rendeiro (Venezuela).

Maria’s family would like to sincerely thank her caregiver, Gloria Dias and the entire VITAS Hospice Team for the excellent care and support that they provided.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday at 10:00am at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 318 Church Street, Naugatuck. Everyone attending Mass is kindly asked to please meet directly at the church. Burial will follow in St. James Cemetery, Naugatuck. Calling hours are Tuesday from 5:00 to 7:00pm at the Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Avenue, Naugatuck. In lieu of flowers and to honor Maria’s memory, donations are requested to St. Francis of Assisi Church, 318 Church Street, Naugatuck, CT 06770.