Maria Madalena Lopes, 84, of Hartford, beloved wife of the late Manuel J. Lopes, passed away on the bitter-sweet night of Christmas eve and wedding anniversary, Friday, December 24, 2021, at St. Francis Hospital, in Hartford.

She was born in Gouveia, Portugal, daughter of the late Antonio and Rosa (Cavacas) Belino. Maria immigrated to the United States in the late sixties with her husband, to follow an American dream which she found in Hartford, CT. Here she was able to continue in her Catholic faith and became a communicant of Our Lady of Fatima Church where she also worked, for over 25 years. The children of the Church's Child Day Care Center were one of her greatest joys in life. She was thoughtful, giving and kind. In her caring and tender ways, she touched many families within the Portuguese community. Her love of music, dancing and good food were fulfilled in both the OLF Church and Portuguese Club of Hartford's festivals and dinners. She and the love of her life husband, "Manny" also enjoyed many a weekend trap/skeet & clay shooting, as members of the Andover Sportsman Club, winning tournaments and becoming a true trend setter for her time. She was unique, eccentric and funny. In retirement, she joined various local senior centers where long time friendships were quickly made over games of fun and bingo.

Maria is survived by what she always said were her "3 reasons for living": her two daughters; Isabel C. Lopes and husband Michael Mastrangelo of Pomfret, CT and Susana M. Lopes of Wethersfield and the light of her life grandson, Ezekiel B. Ortiz. She also leaves a sister, Palmira B. Cardoso, a brother Antonio Belino, a brother in law, Ligio T. Coelho, several nephews, nieces, cousins, good neighbors and thoughtful friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, January 3 ^rd , 2022 at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 50 Kane St. Hartford, CT 06106. Burial will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford. Visiting hours will be held on Monday, January 3 ^rd , 2022 prior to the mass, at 9:00 to 10:30 AM, at the Dillon Baxter Funeral Home, 1276 Berlin Tpke. Wethersfield, CT 06109. To share a memory with the family, please visit www.dillonbaxter.com