ALMEIDA, Maria Lurdes Almeida

She passed away in her home on the morning of January 3, 2026, after fighting a long battle of congestive heart failure.

Maria was born on September 27, 1944, in Santa Cruz Lagoa, Sao Miguel Azores, Portugal. She married her husband Paul in October 1964 and then they immigrated to Canada in January 1969 to join other members of their family to start a new life in Victoria BC.

Maria was predeceased by her husband Paul, parents Maria da Conceicao and Luis Mota, siblings Joao Luis, Adriana, Margarida and Rosario. She is survived by her three children Mark (Alynn), Lisa (Sean) and Aaron (Karissa) Six grandchildren Aidyn, Harrison, Avalon, Lola, Mia, and Mateo. Her siblings Manuel, Jose Carlos, Joao, Alfredo, Sara, and Mario Jorge.

Maria worked as a house cleaner by day and cleaned office buildings on some evenings. Paul was a barber and they eventually opened their first hair salon at Hillside Centre called Changing Times Hair Studio. They went onto owning four salons and one Esthetics studio. Maria worked as a receptionist for many years in the salon.

Towards retirement years, Maria returned to housecleaning before eventually becoming unable to continue when her health started to decline.

Maria loved being at home with her family. She loved cooking and tending to the garden. She was an avid thrift store shopper and filled her home with all of her “good price” finds. Maria loved a good daily shot of homemade moonshine. She would say it “cures the stomach.”

Maria’s legacy is her hard work ethic and hilarious sense of humour. She always had a sarcastic but funny response to offer. But the thing she will most be remembered for is her fighting spirit. She was a survivor in countless ways, and it was that fierce personality that carried her through even right till her final days. She will be greatly missed by all that had the privilege to know and love her.

A funeral service to honour Maria will be held in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria BC on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 2 PM with burial to follow at the Royal Oak burial Park next-door. Friends and family are then invited to return to the Sequoia Centre for a reception.

Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com