Maria Elisa (Feliciano) Soares

Maria Elisa(Feliciano) Soares, age 89 of Taunton, passed away on January 8, 2023, at her residence with her loving family by her side.

She was the beloved and devoted wife of Jose Martins Soares for 71 years.

Born and raised in Terceira, Acores, she was the daughter of the late Manuel Feliciano and Maria do Carmo Feliciano.

Before retiring, she was employed by Texas Instruments.

Sister of the late Jose Feliciano, Antonio Feliciano, Manuel Feliciano, Lionel Feliciano, Guilhermina Barbara, Francisco Pereira, and Juvenalio Feliciano. 

Already the mother of her two oldest daughters, before leaving her home village of Agualva, she emigrated to the United States in April 1960.  Maria began the difficult process of adapting to a new land, language, culture, and the demands to work full-time while also raising a family.  Shortly after arriving in Taunton, the family made the decision to move to California.  During that time, the family welcomed two additional daughters.  Maria was a hard-working woman and would do odd jobs to help support the family.  With her family in tow, they made the drive cross-country back to Taunton in May 1971.

With original intentions of returning to Terceira, Maria insisted that the family stay in America, since she wanted the best for her daughters.  Maria emigrated to the United States to live the American Dream; however, through many sacrifices and hard work, she gave the American Dream to her daughters.

Maria loved gardening, crocheting and travelling.  She enjoyed spending time with her family and was always thinking of a way to make everyone laugh.  She was the life of a party.  Maria made the most delicious bread and loved giving it away to family and friends.  She was a woman of faith and hosted the Holy Ghost in her home on numerous occasions.

Besides her husband, Maria is survived by her loving daughters, Olivia Correia and fiancé Arthur Pina, Mary Lynch and her husband Robert Lynch, Susan DaSilva and her husband Dom DaSilva, Elizabeth Soares and her fiancé Louis Ricciardi.  She was predeceased by her daughter Filomena Maria Soares.

Maria was the beloved grandmother to seven grandchildren: Edward and Kris Correia, Michael and David Chaves, Alex and Marisa DaSilva and Katelyn Carvalho; and four great-grandchildren: Amelia, Mia, Alexander, Brody and Colton, who were her pride and joy.  She will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 10 am in Saint Anthony Church 126 School Street, Taunton. (Relatives and friends may meet directly at church at 9:45am) Interment will follow in Saint Joseph Cemetery.

Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, January 10th from 4 to 7 pm in the Silva Funeral Home 80 Broadway (at Saint Mary’s square) Taunton. Additional parking with handicap access is located on the North side of the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts to St. Anthony’s Church, 126 School Street, Taunton, MA 02780, in Maria’s memory would be deeply appreciated.

For expressions of sympathy, to sign an online guestbook or to light a memorial candle, visit www.silvafuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Maria Elisa (Feliciano) Soares, please visit our floral store.