Maria “Rita” Arruda passed away peacefully on Feb. 9 at the age of 88, after years of battling dementia. Mom has joined her beloved husband, Hermano Benevides Arruda.. She will be dearly missed by her son, Jean “Pierre” (JP) Arruda, her daughter Susan Taylor (Todd). Vavo/Bobo loved and spoke foundly and proudly of her grandchildren Colin Arruda (Danielle), Gabrielle and Malcolm Taylor. She came from a large, loving family of brothers and sisters Maria Teresa Sousa (Jose Moniz), Manuel Sousa (Neves, Joao Sousa (Joanna), Fernando Sousa (Conceicao), Maria Zeca (Jose), Maria Fatinha (Laurenio), Maria des Neves (Jose Laurenio), Maria Filomena (Paul). She has left a hole in the hearts of many including her nieces, nephews and cousins. She was known for her tenacity, pranks, and steadfast devotion to her faith. She immigrated from the Acores, Portugal to Quebec, Canada, to join her husband, and despite the lack of French she worked hard to learn the language and then moved with her husband and son to Orillia, Ontario where after her husband’s death she learned English and modelled a work ethic to her children and grandchildren beyond compare.
Visitation will take place at the Mundell Funeral Home on Monday, Feb. 12 from 6 - 8 p.m. with parish prayers at 5:45 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Church of the Guardian Angels, 115 West St. N., Orillia on Tuesday morning, Feb. 13 at 10 a.m., followed by the interment at St. Michael’s Cemetery. A reception will follow the interment at Guardian Angels Church Hall. The family would like to thank Trillium Manor and her doctors, Dr. Laakso and Dr. Fagan for their constant care and compassion especially during mom’s most difficult times. In lieu of flowers the family requests a donation to the Alzheimer’s Society or the Heart and Stroke Foundation.