Adilia Passos' Obituary
Adilia Pinto Passos passed away peacefully in Clearwater, Florida December 10th 2025 at 94 years old. Adilia was born in Ranhadas, Viseu, Portugal in 1931 to Maria de Jesus Ferreira and Abel Pinto. She immigrated with her mother to Brazil to join her father by ship in 1938. She grew up in Rio de Janeiro Brazil and was an accomplished seamstress. She met the love of her life, Dirceu Passos, in Rio and they married in 1956. Adilia and Dirceu immigrated to the United States with their two young daughters on July 29, 1961 via a Pan Am flight to New York City in search of opportunity in the United States. The young family was sponsored by Adilia's uncle, Angelo dos Santos, who provided the family housing and work in Ossining, NY, until they got on their feet. The family was diligent in learning to speak English and became US citizens in 1972. Upon retirement in 1989, Adilia and Dirceu moved to Florida where they loved hosting and entertaining friends and family poolside at their beautiful home in Palm Harbor. Throughout her life, Adilia was steadfast in her faith and deeply devoted to Catholicism. She loved to read, garden, and crochet. In later years, she discovered a talent for painting and beading. She was endlessly caring and had a warm, radiant smile. She will be missed dearly by her two daughters, Maria Eugenia Gerner (wife of James Michael Yates) of Cleveland, Georgia, Marcia Regina Passos of Keene, NH; three grandchildren, Emily Marie Passos Duffy of Lisbon, Portugal, Brian James Duffy of Keene, NH and Andrew John Gerner of Cartersville, Georgia, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins—including cousins Carlos Gaspar of Caldas da Rainha, Portugal; Carlos Pinto of Viseu Portugal; and Tony de Santos of South Carolina.
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Describe a day with Adilia you’ll never forget.
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