It is with broken hearts that we announce the passing of Natalia, beloved wife of the late Custodio Oliveira, cherished Mother (Mãe) of Gus (Grace) and Jorge (Jodi) and Grandmother ( Avó/Tita) to Eric, Anthony and Nathaniel , both her namesake and the light of her life.

After emigrating to Canada from Portugal with her husband and two boys in 1968, she proudly immersed herself in Canadian culture by going to school to learn English, working as a translator for the Ontario Court of Justice, and fulfilling her life long desire to be a teacher at the Portuguese School of Hamilton and for the Canadian Immigration and Citizenship office in Hamilton.

Natalia had many gifts including being exceptional at crochet and embroidery. Having studied at the Singer sewing school in Portugal; she became a very talented seamstress; became head of sewing machine sales at Singer in downtown Hamilton; and, became the owner of the first fabric shops in Hamilton, Four Seasons Fabrics, to import high quality fabric and yarn.

Being multilingual and a voracious reader, Natalia will be fondly remembered for her love of Jeopardy, her love of travel, cooking and baking her famous Chinese food, pizza, Pasta Primavera and Bolinhos for her family.

Her legacy also includes a significant contribution to the Hamilton Portuguese Community, most notably in her role as an organizer for LusoFest.

She will be dearly missed and leaves behind many family and friends in both Canada and Portugal, including her close knit group of Amigos, who have been her Canadian family for almost sixty years.

Visitation will be held at Bay Gardens Funeral Home, 947 Rymal Road East. Hamilton, ON., on Monday, November 4th, 2024 from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. The Vigil Prayers will be held at 6 p.m. Monday evening.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Assumption, 63 Highway 20, Stoney Creek, ON on Tuesday, November 5th, 2024 at 11 a.m. followed by interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 580 Old York Road, Burlington, Ontario.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks for donations to the Alzheimer's Society. Please sign the online Book of Condolences at www.baygardens.ca