Maria Virginia Vargas
April 22, 1939-Aug. 5, 2024
Pleasanton, California
Maria Virginia Vargas was born on April 22,1939 in Pedro Miguel, Faial, Azores Islands, and passed away peacefully on August 5, 2024, after her long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Maria and her husband Manuel immigrated to the United States in 1959 when she was 19 years old, and began their new life in Pleasanton, California. She was known by most of her family and friends as “Virginia.” She was a lifetime homemaker, and a loving and devoted wife and mother to her husband and three children. Maria’s life was marked by generosity and love for her family and friends. She advocated for those less fortunate, and the well-being of children by providing clothing and necessities. Maria dedicated her life to helping many immigrant families from the Azores and Brazil while they transitioned into their new life in the Tri-Valley. She would adopt families in need and provide them with clothing, food, English translation, and help them find employment. Maria was a founder, a lifelong member, past treasurer, and past president of the Portuguese IDES-Livermore-Pleasanton Holy Ghost Fraternal Society where she was involved in many community activities, socials, and philanthropy. Maria had a passion for Bingo and was a volunteer for many years at the Pleasanton Senior Center. Maria was a parishioner of St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Pleasanton since 1959 and was very devout and dedicated to her faith.
Maria was preceded in death by her parents Jose and Filomena Terra, her brother Jose Terra, her sister Rosemaria Terra, her father and mother-in-law Manuel da Terra Vargas and Maria Vargas, brothers-in-law Daniel Vargas and Jose Vargas, and sister-in-law Marilia Vargas. Maria is survived by her loving husband Manuel Vargas of 66 years, her daughter Neleen Bigman (Sandy), her daughter Denise Willis (Kip), her son Leon Vargas, daughter-in-law Lonnie Vargas, her grandchildren Jason Moitoso (Yura), Amanda Batalha (Dale), Hallie Bigman, Dominic Freitas (Allysa), Paulo Freitas, Giuliana Barthel, MacKenzie Willis Halen (Zack), Brady Willis, Nolan Willis (Mattie), Michael Vargas, Nicolette Vargas (EJ), Chloe Vargas, her five great-grandchildren Braxon Batalha, Maela Batalha, Adelaide Freitas, Roman Vizcaino and Dominic Vizcaino, her brothers Manuel Terra (Maria) and Luis Terra, and many brother and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.
Maria will be remembered for her endearing love for her family and friends, her compassion for those less fortunate, her sense of humor, her infectious smile, her strong will to live, her generous spirit, her beautiful fashion style, and her love of singing and dancing. She will be deeply missed beyond measure by her family and friends.
A Rosary will be held on Monday, September 2, 2024 (Viewing from 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. – Rosary Resuscitation from 6:30-7:30 p.m.) at Graham-Hitch Mortuary, 4167 First Street, Pleasanton, CA 94566. A Funeral mass will be held at 10:00 a.m., September 3, 2024, at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, 3999 Bernal Avenue, Pleasanton, CA 94566. A reception and burial will follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorial donations to be given to the Alzheimer’s Association and St. Jude Research Hospital.
