
Obituary of Maria Dores Gaspar
Maria Dores Gaspar passed away at the age of 91 on Thursday, December 19, 2024. She died peacefully in her bed at Sunrise of Rockville, with family by her side.
Maria was born on September 17, 1933, to Joana and Francisco DeAbreu in the town of Ribeira Brava, in Madeira, Portugal. She was fond of telling her immigration story to all who would listen. She arrived with her mother and sister just before Christmas in 1946 in a snowstorm. They were wearing only organza dresses and sandals and had never seen snow before. Her first memory of the U.S. was seeing the Statue of Liberty through a veil of snow, and trying to catch the flakes on her tongue.
Maria grew up in Brooklyn, became a Dodgers fan, and was working as a seamstress when she met her husband, Jose R. Gaspar. They married (twice!) in 1955 and had five children, Frank, Joe, Jaime, Arlette, and Christina. A true New Yorker, she didn’t get her driver’s license until they moved to the suburbs. In her forties, she studied fractions with her daughter in order to earn her GED and returned to work fulltime.
At first, Maria worked in the kitchen at her children’s high school. Later, she worked in manufacturing and as a seamstress. She was proud that during her career in electronics manufacturing, she built tiny electronic units that flew aboard the NASA space shuttles.
Maria was an avid reader, loved puzzles, and could embroider, knit, crochet, and sew like nobody’s business. Passing on her love of books, she taught all her children to read and write before they started kindergarten. She was an amazing home cook, but don’t bother asking her for the recipe – she never used one. She loved people and having company, routinely putting dinner on the table for over 25 people. Everyone was welcome in her home, and no one ever left hungry, despite their objections. Food was her love language.
Maria was most proud of her children and their families. She loved us all fiercely and was happiest when we were all together. She was kind and loving and nurturing. She was sometimes strict as a mom but mellowed substantially as a grandmother and great-grandmother, much to her children’s chagrin. She doted on them and kept special treats in the house just for “the kids” that no one else was allowed to eat.
Maria is survived by her sister, Oliva (Jose, d.) Calaca of Goshen, NY, her children Frank Gaspar and his wife Patricia of Fruitland, MD, Jose R. (Joe) Gaspar, Jr. and his wife Janet of Fort Myers, FL, Jaime A. Gaspar of Arizona, Maria Arlette Gaspar of Clarksburg, MD, and Christina Gaspar and her partner James Fishkin of Washington, DC. She is also survived by her four grandchildren, Jennifer Schreiner and husband Mark of Raleigh, NC, Jeffrey Gaspar and wife Lauren of Cortlandt Manor, NY, Brandan Gaspar and wife Suzanne of Dingman’s Ferry, PA, and Christopher Gaspar of Fort Myers, FL, and her six great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Rosina, Elizabeth, Colin, Benjamin, and Caroline, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Maria was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 59 years, Joe (Jose Roque Gaspar).
The family will receive visitors on Friday, February 7, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at William M. Gagan Funeral Home Inc. 1525 Burlingham Rd., Pine Bush, NY.
A Funeral Service will be celebrated on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church in Bullville, NY. Entombment will be private.
Visitation
Mass

In Loving Memory
Maria Gaspar
1933 - 2024
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