Obituary of Maria C. Baptista

Maria C. Baptista, 89, of Modena, New York passed away on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. She was born and raised in Porto, Portugal and came to the United States in 1957 and married her husband, Ricardo A. Baptista in Newark, NJ in 1958. In 1964 Ricardo and Maria moved their family to Iselin, NJ where they worked and raised their three sons. They lived in Iselin for 42 years, and after retirement they moved to Jackson, NJ where they lived for the next 13 years before moving to Modena, NY to be with their son Daniel and his family.   

Maria worked as a distribution tech for Revlon in Edison, NJ.  She had many hobbies including crocheting, sewing and ceramics.  Maria had a green thumb and could often be found in her vibrant garden.  More than anything she loved being around people and her greatest joy was spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.  She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and sister who will be dearly missed.

Maria was predeceased by her beloved husband of 64 years, Ricardo A. Baptista; parents, Amadeu and Anna Ramos; sister, Adazinda; and daughter-in-law Cathleen Baptista. She is survived by her sons, Amadeu Baptista, Ricardo Baptista and his wife, Donna, and Daniel Baptista and his wife, Angela; grandchildren, Ricardo, Nicole, Rebecca, Zachary, and Marissa; great grandchildren, Julia and Logan; (and many nieces and nephews in Portugal).

Visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Monday, August 4, 2025 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM.  Relatives and friends are invited to attend her 11:00 AM funeral service on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Freehold, 118 West Main Street, Freehold. Entombment will follow in Woodbridge Memorial Gardens, US Highway 1 North, Woodbridge. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Maria’s name may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.  For information, directions, or to leave condolence messages to the family, please visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com