Maria Gabriela Feraz de Leça Faria Graça

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our loving mother, Maria Gabriela Feraz de Leca Faria Graca, on Friday, November 26, 2021 at the age of 91. She was predeceased by her parents, Jose Faria and Maria da Luz Faria. She will be deeply missed by her four children, Ana Graca, Maria Jose Graca, Antonio Nuno Graca, and Teresa Graca Peterson (David Barry Peterson). She is the loving grandmother of Antonio Graca, Matthew Graca, Rui Graca, Amantha Graca Hamilton and Ana Graca Peterson, and also the great grandmother of Aria Graca Jones and Alejandro Graca Hernandez, all whom she  held very close to her heart. 

Gabriela was born in Portugal and moved to Nova Scotia in 1976 where she spent her life raising her family, working and serving the Lord. Although her education was as a kindergarten teacher, it is not the path that she pursued in Canada. She loved using her gift of entertaining children with stories and origami whenever she saw the need. She enjoyed simple pleasure from crafts that she made and sold at the farmers market at Alderney Gate with all proceeds going to the Church and Charities. In 2013 she was Maritimer of the Week, she was so honoured that she had the certificate on her wall until her passing. Her passions for a simple life didn't stop there, she had a special place at Eastwood Manor where she went to feed the birds and pray, the chickadee being her favorite of all. Gabriela had a special love for St. Teresa and Jesus. Her faith was one to be admired, coming from a Catholic up bringing she devoted her life to living a path of love and service, family and friendships and music. Gabriela was a beautiful piano player, She had an auto harp as well but the piano was her first love of music which she learned from her Grandmother and her Mother. It was heartbreaking for her when she suffered from a stroke and couldn't do the things she loved to do. As hard as it was, her strength came from her love for her family and her faith in meeting Jesus one day.

Gabriela's laugh and stories of personal miracles will carry on for generations to come. So will her cooking especially her Portuguese soup and Portuguese foods. Our Mother and Grandmother leaves a legacy to be proud of and cherished. We love and miss her. Welcome Home...you were an angel on earth and now an angel in Heaven.

Please join us for a special mass at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 1^st, 2021 in Saint Peter's Catholic Church, 10 Maple Street, Dartmouth. Masks and Proof of Full Vaccination will be required. Arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville.