Maria Tereza Dos Santos Madrona

Boston - Maria Tereza Dos Santos Madrona, of Boston’s South End, died Monday, September 7, 2026 at Accent Hospice Residence in Milton. She was 75.

Maria was born in Santos, São Paulo, Brazil a daughter of the late Teresa Dos Santos Taylor. She migrated to the US over 50 years ago and became an American citizen in 2002. Never forgetting her Brazilian heritage and background. Maria earned an Associate degree from Quincy College.

She worked at Hospice Care, Houghton Mifflin Company and The Boston Five Cents Savings Bank. She then went on to dedicate more than 30 years of service to the City of Boston, working as a paraprofessional at Madison Park High School in Roxbury before retiring in 2017.

Throughout her career, Maria helped nurture, encourage, and guide the many students who crossed her path, offering them not only her professional support but, whenever possible, the love and care of a mother. She had a special gift for making young people feel seen, valued, and cared for.

Maria was a fantastic cook and took great pleasure in gardening, movies and music. She loved living 40 years in Boston's South End and was an active board member of the Methunion Manor Cooperative Corporation, where she formed many lasting friendships and became a cherished member of the community. In 2026, she warmly received an award recognition from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for her dedicated service as a medical professional, Boston educator, and Board Member of her Co-op Association.

She also had a deep love for wildlife and found joy in observing and caring for the natural world around her donating to different environmental and conservation organizations, and animal welfare organizations such as the MSPCA.

Maria was a strong woman who would go above and beyond to help those in need caring for all people around her, especially her family members and loved ones.

Maria was a dedicated, loving and caring mother until the very end.

She leaves her son, Ivair ‘Nino’ Madrona Jr. of Boston; her cat Fofinho Madrona and her siblings, Hermógenes Gonçalves, Adalberto Gonçalves, Henriberto Gonçalves, Diógenes Gonçalves, Maria Domingas Gonçalves; also survived by nieces & nephews. She was predeceased by her former husband, Ivair Madrona, Sr.

Family and friends will honor and remember Maria’s life by gathering for an Evening Wake in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Monday, September from 4 to 7 p.m.

Her funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday, September 15th in The Cathedral of the Holy Cross, 1400 Washington Street, Boston at 10:00 a.m. Please go directly to the church. Burial will follow in Saint Joseph Cemetery, Saint James the Apostle Section, VFW Parkway, West Roxbury.

Those wishing to view the broadcast (and recording) of Maria's Mass please use this link: https://my.gather.app/remember/maria-tereza-dos-santos-madrona

Expressions of sympathy may be made to BCTV, P.O. Box 9196, 34 Chestnut Street, Watertown, MA 02472 or https://www.catholictv.org/donate.html