Maria Murbach

TAUNTON- Maria Nelia Gonsalves (Azevedo) Murbach, 91 years old, died peacefully at home with her loving family at her side.  “Nelia” was born in Funchal, Madeira Island, Portugal, daughter of the late Luis Gonsalves Azevedo and Maria de Jesus (Alves) Azevedo.  She was the wife of the late, Rubens Murbach, for 40 years, whom she missed dearly since his passing in 2000.

While in her island home, she, her sisters and mother hand embroidered fine linens (Bordados da Madeira), which were sold to luxury hotels and homes throughout Madeira and Europe.  She also worked as a bookkeeper before leaving Madeira in 1956, when she immigrated to Sao Paulo, Brazil, on her own to begin a new life, a life in which she met a neighbor, who shared her love of reading, exchanging their books on her front stoop, leading them to marry in 1960.  They had two children, and in 1978, immigrated to the U.S. to give their son and daughter a better future.

In the U.S., Nelia worked as an assembler at Texas Instruments in Attleboro, for 5 years, before moving on to Perkins Shoes/George Keith Shoes in Bridgewater, until retirement in 1997.  Nelia loved her husband, children, and family in the U.S. and around the world.  She had an adventurous and independent spirit, enjoyed travelling, Cape Cod beaches, cooking, gardening and watching Brazilian novelas (soap operas).  She had no grandchildren but delighted in the joy that her nieces, nephews, their children, as well as children of family friends, brought into her life, many of whom she helped raise, always happy being around them.

She loved all her “grandkitties”, especially Holly, Berry, Cali and Cooper.  Nelia is survived by her son, Roberto Murbach and his wife, Joanne (Gourdin), of East Bridgewater, and daughter, Regina Murbach, of Taunton; her brothers, Fernando and wife, Adriana, of Taunton, Carlos and his wife, Ivone, of Taunton, Alberto and his wife Bety, of Madeira, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins in Portugal and Brazil.  She is preceded in death by her twin, Manuel, brothers Luis and Jose, sisters Bernadete, Lucilia, Cecilia, Maria do Carmo and Fernanda.

Maria’s visitation with funeral will be held on Tuesday , July 11, 2023 at 10:00am followed by a funeral service beginning at 11:00am in the Chapel of 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.

Interment will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, 475 East Britannia Street, Taunton.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to the Taunton Animal Shelter, MASPCA, ASPCA or any animal rescue organization.