Maria Josefina de Matos Reis Nolasco obituary: Clancy-Palumbo Funeral Home, East Haven

Maria Josefina de Matos Reis Nolasco, 94, of Orange was born in Portugal on October 3, 1931 as the eldest of three daughters of Manuel dos Santos Reis and Maria da Gloria de Matos Reis. She passed away January 13, 2026 at Yale New Haven Hospital.

She was raised and educated in Portugal. She completed a degree in biology at the Universidade de Lisboa and taught prior to marrying her husband, Dr. Dario R. Nolasco in 1965. Afterwards, she joined her husband in the United States. She immersed herself in a new culture and committed her time to being a devoted wife and mother. She surrounded herself with lifelong friends who became adopted sisters and brothers, gathering all of them in celebrations which became happy memories. The constant in her life was her Catholic faith which gave her strength and joy. She is remembered as a woman who had strong conviction and perseverance and who gave freely of herself with kindness and love.

She is survived by her beloved children and grandchildren--- her daughter, Helena Nolasco, and son in law, John Dale, and her son, Dario Nolasco, her daughter in law, Anushree Shirali Nolasco, and grandsons, David and Gabriel Nolasco.
She is predeceased by her husband, her parents, and siblings.

Family and friends are invited to meet and attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday January 24, 2026 at 10 AM in Holy Infant Church, 450 Racebrook Rd., Orange CT with Committal to follow at St. Lawrence Cemetery, West Haven. Please go directly to the church on Saturday. All services are under the care of the Clancy-Palumbo Funeral Home, East Haven CT.