Maria DeGrace affectionately known as “Mama Daluz” to family, friends and neighbors began her life in July 1924 on the island of Sao Nicolau of the Portuguese archipelago of the Cape Verde Islands of Africa.

She moved to the island of Sao Vicente after a severe famine around 1946 where she met and married widower John B DeGrace (deceased 1986). She helped raise John’s 8 children Albert, Tony (deceased 1998), Edwin of Pensacola, FL, Arthur, Adelia(Leite) of (Palm Coast, FL), Marciano, Adolfo, and Lionel of (Portland, ME) while bearing 4 children of her own John Jr. of (Cobleskill, NY), Edward of (Allentown, PA), Lidia Williams of Charlotte (Court House, VA) and Stella (also of Cobleskill, NY). Mama Daluz passed on July 19, 2019 and will be buried at Oakland Cemetery on Ashburton Avenue, Yonkers, NY aside of her beloved husband John B. DeGrace on Wednesday, July 24, 2019.

Maria arrived at Idlewild International Airport (Today’s Kennedy) in 1959 and settled in Yonkers, NY. Mama Daluz lived her entire American life on Willow Street in the Park Hill Section and befriended many in the diverse ethnic communities of Yonkers. Maria worked for the Yonkers School System as a Teacher’s Aide and, also St. John’s Hospital as a Nurse’s Aide. She was a member of the Hudson View Baptist Church before converting to Roman Catholicism (Mt. Carmel). John B, Albert and Mama Daluz were early pioneers in the burgeoning Cape Verdean Diaspora of Yonkers, NY.

She lived an amazing 94 years and is survived by all her children and stepchildren excluding Tony. Also, her grandchildren (Tony) (John Williams DaGraca, Danny, Ruth, (Adelia) Freddy, Simone, (Arthur) Doris and Arlene, (Edwin) Cynthia, Natalie, Fernando, Kevin, (Marciano) Marc, Nancy, (John Jr) John Nicholas, Jeremy, twins James and Jared . (Edward) Marciela and Alyssa, (Lidia) Tariq (deceased) Sakina, Safwan, Sabriyah, Jamal, Hussain, Fayid and Adeela. She also leaves many great grandchildren scattered throughout the country

Viewing will be held at the Flynn Funeral Home 325 S. Broadway, Yonkers NY, on Tuesday, July 23, 2019 2-4 pm & 7-9 pm, followed by Viewing on Wednesday, July 24th from 9-10 am, Service 10-10:30 am, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Fatima 10:45am-12N. Graveside Service 1-1:30 pm followed by a Reception at Our Lady of Fatima 2:30-4 pm.

In lieu of flowers please visit the GoFundMe Page on Facebook to help defray travel costs and lodging for the large De Grace family and, friends.

https://tinyurl.com/yxqa6fqm