Antonia Ernestina Barros Santos

Antonia (Ernestina) Barros Santos.  
Sunrise: August 29,1943        Sunset May 10, 2021

Antonia Barros Santos, better known as Ernestina, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on May 10, 2021. Affectionately known as Tina by her closest family, she was born on August 29, 1943 in Ilheu das Contendas-Fogo. She was the youngest of the 13 children of the late Antonio Tomé De Barros and Ana Nunes DePina Barros (aka Mana de Djéu). At the age of 16, she married Domingos Santos and had 8 children. In 1981, Ernestina immigrated to the United States in search of better life for her children. The day after her arrival, she went to work at Sheraton Hotel in Boston as a full-time housekeeper, and also worked part-time at John Hancock Towers as an office sanitarian. A year later, she managed to save enough money to send for her children to join her in Boston.

With her faith in God and her strong work ethic, she held two jobs for 18 years and provided for her family. On her low salary she was able to buy a home, and send her children to college. She was an unselfish and devoted mother who sacrificed her whole life for her children. Ernestina enjoyed cooking for her family and feeding everyone who came by the house. She loved spending time with family and loved celebrating Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, summer barbeques, birthdays and special occasions.

She will be forever loved and cherished by her children: Maria Joana (Orlando) Timas, Maria Julia Santos, Maria Conceição Santos, Maria Isabel (Ulisses) Gonçalves, Cristiano Barros-Santos, Eugenio (Eurides) Barros, Laurinda Barros and Maria Fatima (Noel) Do Canto. She is also survived by her grandchildren; Kila and Jason Timas, Odair, Claudia, Aguinaldo, Nicholas and Michael Lopes, Rhia, Benhur and Odisseia Gonçalves, Tyler and Tianu Santos, Sydney and Nyla Barros, Chanel Cardoso, Isaiah and Elijah Miranda and Imani DoCanto and 9 great grand-children; her sister, Palmira “Mamá” Cardoso, and 38 nephews and nieces and countless extended family and friends.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.