Maria Estrela

Maria (Silva) Estrela, age 77, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 14, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of Fernando “Freddy” Estrela, with whom she shared 58 years of marriage.

Born on February 2, 1949, in Ribeira Grande, São Miguel, Azores, Portugal, Maria was the daughter of the late Irene (Tavares) (Da Silva) Goncalves and Jose Da Silva. At the age of 18, she became one of the first members of her family to make the journey to the United States, beginning a new chapter of her life in America while always maintaining a deep love and pride for her Portuguese heritage.

Maria later returned to Portugal, where she married Freddy in Ribeira Grande in 1968. Following their marriage, Maria and Freddy came to the United States together and began building the life and family they would share for the next 58 years.

Maria was born Maria da Estrela Tavares Silva, with “Estrela,” meaning “star” in Portuguese, given to her as part of her name at birth. In a remarkable coincidence, the man she would marry also carried the surname Estrela, making a name Maria had carried since birth her married family name as well.

After living in Cambridge, Maria and Freddy moved their family to Burlington in 1986, where they would make their home for nearly three decades and raise their two sons, Joe and Brian. It was there that so many of the family’s lasting memories were made.

The Estrela home became a gathering place for their sons and their friends. Brian’s friends were frequent visitors, spending afternoons playing video games or street hockey in the driveway, while Joe and his band could sometimes be heard practicing together, crowded into his small bedroom. Through it all, Maria’s caring nature extended beyond her own family. Friends were always welcomed into the Estrela home, and she made sure everyone had something to eat.

Above all else, Maria was a devoted mother and grandmother. She was protective, caring and strong. As a mother, she was always worrying, always making sure everyone had eaten, and always waiting up until her children were safely home.

She spent countless hours making sure her sons got wherever they needed to be, whether that meant driving Joe to guitar lessons or Brian to friends’ houses and hockey games. Even when she didn’t know exactly where they were going, she would coordinate with other parents and find a way to get them there. Hockey may have been Brian’s passion rather than hers, but over the years she learned the game simply by being there for him.

Maria brought that same devotion to being a grandmother to Kylie and Dylan. She treasured the time she spent babysitting them, cooking for them and simply caring for them. A gifted knitter, Maria made blankets for her grandchildren that became lasting reminders of her love. Her generosity extended beyond her immediate family as well. She knitted baby blankets for the daughters of one of Brian’s closest friends — keepsakes they still have in their rooms today.

Maria was also an exceptionally talented seamstress, a craft she practiced professionally for approximately 20 years, both in Portugal and the United States. She would sketch out dresses before bringing her designs to life, and her skill extended to intricate work such as making wedding dresses. Her creativity was something she passed along in her own way, with Brian developing a love of drawing from an early age and eventually pursuing a career in graphic design.

Her talents could also be found in the kitchen. Maria loved preparing authentic Portuguese food for her family, including malassadas and her kale soup, a particular favorite of Brian’s. Food was another way Maria cared for the people she loved, and making sure everyone was well fed was simply part of who she was.

Maria never lost her connection to Portugal. Portuguese could frequently be heard in her home, even when her sons answered her in English. Over the years, her conversations with family developed into their own familiar mixture of Portuguese and English — a language all their own that somehow everyone understood.

Music was another source of joy throughout Maria’s life. She especially loved Elvis Presley and Portuguese music, and as her sons grew older, some of their musical tastes began rubbing off on her as well. She developed an appreciation for some of the music they loved and enjoyed sharing that connection with them. She also loved Christmas music and the traditions of the holiday season, which included watching Home Alone with her family.

When Brian was young, Maria would dress up for Halloween and take him trick-or-treating, often bringing back her trusty witch costume year after year. She knew how to make simple occasions special. When she and Freddy had the opportunity, they also enjoyed spending time together at Hampton Beach.

Throughout their 58 years of marriage, Maria was the heart of the home she shared with Freddy. She cared deeply for him and took great pride in caring for their home and family, whether she was cooking, keeping the house in order or managing the household bills and finances. She was the person who quietly kept so many things running, often without asking for recognition in return.

Those who knew Maria will remember a woman whose life revolved around caring for the people she loved. She didn’t need grand gestures to show it. Her love could be found in a home-cooked meal, a handmade blanket, a ride to a hockey rink or guitar lesson, staying awake until her child was safely home, or simply making sure no one ever left her house hungry. Being a mother was the role she cherished most, followed closely by the joy she found in being a grandmother.

In addition to her husband, Freddy, Maria is survived by her two sons, Joseph Estrela and his wife, Kara of Littleton, and Brian Estrela of Woburn; her two beloved grandchildren, Kylie and Dylan; her brother, Humberto Silva; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members and dear friends.

She was the sister of the late Jose Manuel Silva, Eduardo T. Silva and Salvador Silva.

Relatives and friends are invited to Maria’s Celebration of Life on Sunday, August 23, 2026 from 1 until 4 PM at the WESTFORD HEALY FUNERAL HOME, 57 N Main Street, Westford. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, August 24, 2026 at 12 PM at St. Anthony’s Church, Cambridge. Burial to follow in Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington.