Obituary of Maria Fernandes

Maria Fernandes, age 87, of Shelton, beloved wife of the late Antonio Fernandes, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 with her loving family by her side. Born on August 16, 1938 in Alturas, do Barroso, Boticas, Portugal, she was a daughter of the late Deolinda Fernandes Lauradas.

The oldest of 11, she emigrated to the U. S. in 1971, settling in Bridgeport before moving to Shelton with her daughter and beloved son-in-law. A hard-working woman she was employed by Acme Shear for 25 years while working nights at Drumstick Bar-B-Q in Bridgeport also working there for 25 years. It was at Drumstick that she forged many loving friendships and enjoyed feeding countless people every day.

She was a dedicated and loving wife and mother. She provided nothing but the best for her family The unconditional love she gave and the values she instilled will forever live in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.

Survivors include her loving daughter Christina Tornifoglia and her husband Renato. She also leaves to cherish her memory Jonathan Rua and Melanie Rua who she loved and treated as her own grandchildren, two nieces Teresa Ramos and Ilda Fernandes and a nephew Jose Teixeira.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 16, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. in Our Lady of Fatima Church, 429 Huntington Rd., Bridgeport. Interment will follow in St Michaels's Cemetery, Stratford. Relatives and friends may greet the family on Thursday from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Rd., Trumbull. To leave an online condolence, please visit us at www.abriola.com