Maria Dolores Cabral

In Loving Memory of Maria Dolores Cabral
March 17, 1932 – May 17, 2025

With profound love and deep sorrow, we announce the passing of Maria Dolores Cabral (née Chavez), a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and pillar of faith. A longtime resident of Oakland, Maria passed away peacefully and unexpectedly on May 17, 2025, at the age of 93. Known for her radiant smile, strong Catholic faith, and unshakable spirit, Maria lived a life filled with purpose, love, and joy—a legacy that will continue to inspire all who were blessed to know her.

Obituary

Maria Dolores Cabral
March 17, 1932 – May 17, 2025
Longtime Oakland resident Maria Dolores Cabral ( Chavez), a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and devout Catholic, passed away peacefully and unexpectedly on May 17, 2025, at the age of 93. Born on St. Patrick’s Day in 1932 in Las Vegas, New Mexico, Maria warmly embraced the charm of her lucky birthday—often celebrating with a grasshopper cocktail in hand while enjoying late nights at her favorite casinos in Reno.
       The youngest of many siblings, Maria was born to Josephine and Juan Chavez. She faced early life hardships, including the loss of her father, Juan, at the age of 11—shortly after the family had migrated to San Francisco. Years later, she and her mother, Josephine, lost everything when their Oakland apartment was destroyed in a devastating fire. Despite these challenges, Maria embodied resilience and grace, grounded in her unwavering faith and strong moral compass.
       Maria was married to the love of her life, Stanley Cabral, for nearly 70 years—a partnership filled with devotion, laughter, and inspiration for all who knew them. She was preceded in death by Stanley, who passed away eight months earlier at the age of 99.
Together, Maria and Stanley raised six children: the late Janie Crooms, Tino Cabral, Ricky Cabral, Sabrina Gomes, Julie Linford, and Anna May. She was a cherished matriarch to a large and loving family that includes 21 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren.
       A woman of deep faith, Maria was a devoted member of St. Bernard’s Parish in Oakland, receiving communion every Sunday until the final week of her life. She prayed the rosary each night with her husband and generously supported numerous Catholic organizations throughout her lifetime. Her spirituality ran so deep that, in a remarkable moment, she once stopped a car spinning out of control with a single outstretched hand while walking down Seminary Avenue—leaving bystanders astonished that she emerged without serious injury.
       For decades, Maria was a joyful fixture at the Oakland Coliseum and Berkeley flea markets, where she sold antiques and connected with her community. She also worked seasonally in local canning factories, famously leaving her job at Sunshine Biscuits with flair—letting cookies fall off the conveyor belt after being promised help that never came.
       She loved taking long walks around East Oakland and, in recent years, often walked with Stanley to It’s a Grind for coffee and pastries. Maria also enjoyed playing bingo, going to casinos, and joking back and forth with Stanley—conversations that often made others smile.
       Her favorite saying, “Ask me no questions, I’ll tell you no lies,” encapsulated her bold, honest, and spirited approach to life. She leaves behind a legacy of love, strength, faith, and the importance of community and family.
       Maria’s Rosary will be held on Monday, June 2, 2025 at 7:00 PM at Holy Sepulchre in Hayward (Funeral Center). Her Funeral Mass will take place the following morning, Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at 11:00 AM, in the Mausoleum of The Apostles, followed by a short drive to the St. Francis Outdoor Crypts for entombment.
       In honoring Maria, the family celebrates a life lived with devotion, humor, and unmatched resilience. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

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