Maria Emilia Sapata

Naugatuck, CT Maria Emilia Sapata, 103, the widow of Antonio Jose Sapata, Sr., died peacefully on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at her home with loving family by her side.

Emilia was born March 13, 1923, in Murtosa, Portugal daughter of the late Domingos Branco and Claridade Oliveira. Emilia lived in Naugatuck most of her life and retired from Waterbury Buckle in 1983. She was a faithful parishioner of Our Lady of Fatima Church, where she was a member of Associacao de Nossa Senhora Rosario de Fatima de Waterbury – Naugatuck, CT and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Emilia was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of Clube Uniao Portuguesa and she enjoyed gardening, crocheting, reading and Praying the Rosary.

Emilia is survived by her daughters, Emilia DeCampos and Ana Lucia DaSilva; her son and daughter in law, Antonio Jose Sapata, Jr. and Kathleen Sapata; her son in law, Antonio A. “Tony” Marques, Sr. and her beloved 9 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. In addition to her parents and her husband, Emilia was predeceased by her daughter, Rose Marques; her brothers, Nuno Branco and Joao Branco and her sons in law, Joao J. DeCampos and Jaime DaSilva.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday May 11, 2026, at 11:00am at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 2071 Baldwin Street, Waterbury. Burial will follow in St. James Cemetery, Naugatuck. Calling hours are on Monday from 8:45am to 10:15am at the Buckmiller Ford Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Avenue, Naugatuck. In lieu of flowers and to honor Emilia’s memory, donations are requested to Our Lady of Fatima Church, 2071 Baldwin Street, Waterbury, CT 06707 or to the Clube Uniao Portuguesa Scholarship Fund, 110 Rubber Avenue, Naugatuck, CT 06770.