After battling a long illness, Maria Dinis of Wiggins passed away Friday, December 8. Maria Fatima Meneses Mendonca was born September 17, 1945 to Maria and Joaquim Mendonca in the city of Santa Luzia on the Portuguese island of Terceira, Azores. Maria met Joaquim Dinis at a festival in 1965 and they were soon married. The Dinis' then immigrated to Toronto, Canada where Jack worked as a mechanic. Soon came two sons, Norman in 1970 and William in 1971. The family then moved to Mississauga where Maria was a homemaker and mother where she enjoyed being close to her extended family in the area. She had adventures there including learning to drive in city traffic and working part time as a seamstress.

In 1982 the family made the move to the United States where they partnered on a dairy farm in Wiggins, Colorado. Maria helped manage the farm for seven years until the next adventure began in 1989 as Empire Dairy was built. Maria enjoyed raising the boys on the new operation as well as listening to Elvis on the radio as she managed the books for the dairy and cooked for her family. Maria was a proud Canadian and loved every opportunity she had to visit friends and family back in Canada and Portugal. In 1997 her first grandchild Austin was born and soon followed Jagger and Olivia. Even through all of her health problems, Maria loved spending time feeding and playing with her grandchildren. Maria and Jack were able to travel to other areas of the world together including Italy and Brazil before her failing health kept her at home.

Maria was proceeded in death by her parents Maria and Joaquim Mendonca. She is survived by her husband Jack, sons Norm (Britt) and Bill, grandchildren Austin, Jagger and Olivia. Also, her sister Eria Justino and brothers Joe (Fatima) Mendonca and Fred (Liberia) Mendonca as well as many loving nieces and nephews.

Her celebration of life will be held Monday, December 18 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Wiggins, Colorado at 11:00AM, followed by internment in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Ft. Morgan and then fellowship at the church.

Memorials can be made to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.