Tia Maria's Story

A Life That Spanned 101 Years

Maria M. Luis, who was affectionately known by her family as "Tia Maria" was born on October 1st, 1918 in Terceira, Portugal, the eldest of nine siblings. Her early years were marked by profound responsibility when tragedy struck her family with the loss of her mother during childbirth. Maria courageously stepped into the role of caretaker for her eight younger siblings, shouldering responsibilities far beyond her years. Despite these challenges, she did not have the opportunity to pursue extensive formal education.

In 1970, Maria immigrated to the United States, driven by a fierce determination to forge a better future for herself and her loved ones. Her journey was one of resilience, navigating significant health issues that repeatedly brought her to the brink of death. Throughout it all, Maria's unwavering pride and joy were her family—her daughters Tereza and Fatima, son-in-law Jose, granddaughter Harriette, great-grandson Gavin, beloved dog Hank, grandson-in-law Andy, and a vast extended family of nieces, nephews, and remaining siblings.

Her life was a testament to love, compassion, kindness, and selflessness. Her legacy transcends her own journey, inspiring the creation of the Tia Maria Foundation. This foundation honors her memory by providing scholarships to high school students in the Elizabeth, NJ area, empowering them to pursue higher education—something Maria cherished deeply.

Despite facing countless hardships, Maria's spirit and dedication to family serve as a guiding light for generations to come through the Tia Maria Foundation.

The Rose Patterned Couch

By Chairman Gavin Szilvasi (2023)

Growing up, going to my grandparents’ house was not a Sunday occasion, but a daily occurence. Both of my parents worked demanding hours and my grandparents were my only option after school. Sometimes, I would dread going to their house. They did not have wi-fi, my favorite TV channels, or electronics to pass the time. Instead, their house was filled with great laughs, stories about the past, and, above all, unconditional love.

Perhaps the greatest thing about going to their house after school was the presence of my great-grandmother. Instead of watching TV, I would sit on my grandparents’ rose-patterned couch and listen to her endless stories. She was born on a small island off the coast of Portugal where money was thin and love was thick. On Sundays, she would have to switch shoes with one of her eight other siblings to go to Church as they did not have enough money to buy shoes for everyone.

Being the eldest of nine, she was thrown into the mother role in her teenage years when her mother suddenly died during childbirth. She was tasked with raising her eight younger siblings - even delaying her upcoming wedding. Once all of her siblings, as well as her children, were grown up, she decided to make the difficult journey to America to give her posterity the best opportunities to achieve their dreams.

Life in America was often harsh and unforgiving. She did not know the language and money was extremely tight. She did what she could to provide for her expanding family. Many times, the only thing she could give was her endless love and support. As the years went by and life was becoming slower paced, she looked on as her siblings left this earth one by one. To her, losing one of her siblings was like losing a child. In 2020, my great-grandmother passed on at the age of 101, outliving all of her siblings except for the youngest two.

The stories that she told me on the rose-patterned couch will stay with me forever. Through her, I received firsthand accounts of the strength and perseverance that it took to make the journey for a better future. During her life, she overcame every obstacle that she faced. The time that I was able to spend with her is the greatest blessing of my life.