Florinda M. (Bento) Ribeiro

Florinda M. (Bento) Ribeiro, 79, passed away on April 20, 2026, at Baystate Medical Center, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on December 2, 1946, in Turquel, Portugal, to the late Manuel Luis Bento and Joaquina da Conceicao Mendes. Raised in Turquel, Florinda was known for her kind heart and giving spirit, and she lived her life rooted in faith and gratitude to God. She met her husband Jose Ribeiro, and together they shared 56 wonderful years of marriage. In 1972, they immigrated to the United States, settling in Chicopee, MA, where they built a home filled with love and raised their daughters.

Florinda retired as a custom ball stamper for Callaway Golf. She was a talented seamstress, lovingly making clothes for her daughters and handmade matching pajama sets for her grandchildren—always thinking of ways to bring comfort, joy, and a sense of togetherness to those she adored. She also enjoyed cooking and baking and was especially known for her delicious VóVó soup and VóVó bread, which she shared generously with family and friends. Above all, Florinda’s greatest joy was caring for her family. Her faith was quiet but steady, and she showed it through a life of patience, compassion, and service to others. She was a devoted wife and mother, a loving grandmother to her seven grandchildren, and a doting dog mom to her furry best friend, Clifford. Florinda lived with a gentle selflessness, consistently putting others first and offering love through everything she did.

Florinda was the devoted wife of Jose Ribeiro; loving mother to Dina Ribeiro and her fiancé Bill Guppy of San Carlos, CA, Anita Dragon and her husband Ben of Belchertown, and Lilly Madru and her husband Cliff of Chester. She was also the loving guardian for many years of David Ribeiro. She was the cherished VóVó of Tyler Cole, Jack Dragon, Jacob Vanderwoude, Gabriela Cole, Juliana Dragon, Jonah Vanderwoude, and Violet Madru. She also leaves her sister, Maria Mendes Bento, and her brother, Martinho Mendes Bento, both of Portugal, as well as many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends whose lives were touched by her warmth and generosity, including her cherished friends of many decades, Olimpia and Antonio Nazare. She was predeceased by her parents and her brothers, Manuel Mendes Bento and Raimundo Mendes Bento.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, April 24, 2026 from 5:00–7:00 PM at Nowak Funeral & Cremation Services, 15 Ludlow Avenue, Indian Orchard. Funeral services will be on Saturday, April 25, 2026 assembling at 9:00 AM at the funeral home and proceeding to St. Elizabeth Church in Ludlow for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM. Burial will follow at Reservoir Cemetery in Ludlow. May her memory be a blessing, and may God’s love bring comfort and peace to all who mourn. To offer online condolences to the family, please visit www.nowakfuneral.com.

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