Maria "Mary" daConcellas Cambra Risso went to be with her Lord on the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on Saturday, May 5, 2012, in Manteca, CA. She was 93 years old.
She was born in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, where her parents initially settled after coming to America from the Azores in Portugal. She was the oldest of four children, and the only girl. When she was just a baby, her family moved to Southern
California where she grew up on a dairy and helped her parents in the daily chores at the farm including milking the cows by hand before and after school. She was raised in a devout Catholic family, and her parents were active members of the Portuguese Pentecost Society. She was the festa queen in Long Beach when she was 15 years old. Among her many fond recollections growing up were fishing off of Long Beach Pier with her dad and siblings, and attending festa and other dances chaperoned by her mother, returning home after midnight but just in time for the morning milking.
She was a resident of Manteca for 52 years. She is survived by her loving and beloved long-time husband Lloyd, a second-generation and lifetime dairy farmer who is now retired. She is also survived by her brother Johnny Cambra of Fremont, daughter Dolores Mitchell of Weston Ranch, step-son Guy (Lea) Risso of Galt, and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph Cambra and Maria daGloria Vaas Cambra; daughter, Gloria Hershman, sons Tony Cambra and Henry Silva; and brothers Frank Cambra and Joe Cambra.Mrs. Mary Risso and her beloved longtime husband Lloyd moved to Manteca from the Bay Area in 1963. They owned dairies around the Bay Area, the Silicon Valley, Tracy, Turlock, Escalon, and Hilmar. As a dairyman's wife, she worked hard alongside her husband and took good care of the home. Her family was her life. She was a proud homemaker who lovingly devoted her life to her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren whom she loved unconditionally. She was equally devoted to the many young children who were entrusted to her care by their parents. She took good care of them like they were her very own, giving them the same tender, loving care as she gave her very own children and grandchildren. She always spoke of them lovingly and with fondness, and continued to keep tabs of them as they grew up. In turn, many of them kept in touch with her, some to the very end. Every child was precious and special in her eyes. She will be truly missed by all who knew her.
Visitation for Mrs. Mary Risso will be held Monday, May 14, from noon until 5 p.m. at P.L. Fry & Son, 290 N. Union Road in Manteca. A Traditional Latin Funeral Mass is scheduled for Tuesday, May 15, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Ripon located at 19399 E. Highway 120, corner Carrolton Road. In keeping with the solemnity of this centuries-old traditional Mass instituted by St. Pius V in 1566, modest attire would be appropriate. She will be entombed in the Mausoleum at St. John's Catholic Cemetery, 17871 Carrolton Road, Escalon (behind St. Patrick's Church). An online guest book is available for condolences at www.plfryandson.com (search obituaries). P.L. Fry & Son is in charge of arrangements.
Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Friday, May 11, 2012
