Tereza Diana (Martin) Benevides Obituary (1919 - 2018)

"Her children arise and call her blessed.... Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Proverbs 31:28-29 Tereza Diana (Martin) Benevides, 98 years old, was born into eternal life on February 12, 2018 at home after a long illness. Tereza was born in Slatersville, Rhode Island to devoted parents Anthony Feliciano Martin and Josephine Adelaide (Barbosa) Martin from St. Michael Island, Azores, Portugal. She was the younger sister to Zeferina Adelaide (Martin) Barbosa. All are predeceased. A faithful spouse to Manuel Benevides, she was a loving and dedicated mother to twin daughters, Theresa Philomena (Benevides) Blahato and Philomena Angela (Benevides) Rogers, and their families: son-in-law Gene M. Blahato, and her grandchildren Valeria and Victoria Blahato of Seattle, Washington; and son-in-law John L. Rogers, and her grandchildren Sydney, Shelby, Maryanne, and Natalia Rogers of Arlington, Virginia. Along with her family, Tereza was a devout Catholic her entire life, with special devotions to St. Anthony of Padua, St. Philomena, and Our Lady of Fatima. She was privileged to meet the parents of the Fatima visionaries Saints Francisco and Jacinta Marto and the family of their cousin, visionary Sister Lucia dos Santos. Tereza was a relative of the Venerable Mother Teresa of the Annunciation (1658-1738), Order of the Poor Clares, Convent of Hope, Ponta Delgada, St. Michael, Azores. Venerable Mother Teresa of the Annunciation promulgated the devotion of the Ecce Homo "Behold the Man" also known as the Holy Christ of Miracles. Devotion to Holy Christ of Miracles is popular among the Portuguese. Tereza's life was one of profound faith in God, which infused her everyday actions. She lived a simple yet elegant life. She was highly regarded for her talents as a seamstress during her long career at the Anderson-Little Company in Fall River, Massachusetts. Her family will best remember her for the peaceful, loving, and faith-filled home life she provided; her tender care for the elderly in the community; and her time spent praying the rosary. Tereza lived the last 31 years of her life with her daughter Theresa and her son-in-law Gene in Miami, Florida; London, England; and Seattle, Washington. Tereza enjoyed traveling especially throughout Europe and the Holy Land with the family. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will begin at 12:30 pm and Mass of Christian Burial will take place on March 16th at 1:00pm, BOTH at Blessed Sacrament Church 5050 8th Ave NE, Seattle, 98105 followed by a Reception. There will be a private Internment at the Benevides Family plot at Calvary Cemetery in Seattle. Hoffner Fisher & Harvey Guestbook at harveyfuneral.com To send a flower arrangement in memory of Tereza Diana (Martin) Benevides, please click here to visit our sympathy store.