Maria Julia Garcia Correia Serpa

Maria Julia Garcia Correia Serpa, age 85, passed away on January 28, 2024, at her home in Stoughton. She was the beloved wife to José Joaquim Serpa for 59 loving years. Maria was born in Cadaval, Portugal. She was the daughter to the late Antonio Eduardo Forsado Correia and Maria do Carmo Garcia Correia. 

Maria Julia came to the United States in 1970 at the age of 32 with her husband José. They settled in Stoughton, and became lifelong residents, raising a dear family. Maria Julia was a teacher in Portugal and continued teaching in the States throughout her career in the Stoughton Public Schools.  

Upon arriving to the United States, Maria Julia earned her Master’s Degree in Education from Boston University. She then became a teacher in Stoughton Public Schools, where she worked for 27 years until her retirement. 

She was a dedicated bilingual educator. She was a beloved mentor to many of her students, and gave generously her expertise, time, and hard work to her students. She made many friends along the way among families and colleagues. Most of all, Maria Julia had a profound impact on her students, many of whom remember her to this day. She was a devoted educator who would advocate for her newly arrived students both in and out of the classroom. 

Outside of her professional life, Maria Julia was involved in the community of Immaculate Conception Church for over 20 years, often translating sermons to Portuguese for Sunday Mass.

Maria Julia loved her family above all else, enjoying regular ‘Friday Night Feasts,’ with her children and grandchildren. She relished family gatherings and bringing everyone together, and especially loved to cook for her family. 

She also regularly traveled back to continental Portugal to visit her parents, brothers, sisters and nieces and nephews. She and José also spent summers together at their home in the Azores. Maria Julia took comfort in staying close to her siblings and family in Portugal. She truly believed in the importance of keeping family connections close, no matter the physical distance. She will be greatly missed by so many. 

In addition to her beloved husband, Maria Julia is survived by her children Maria Reardon and her husband Gavin of Shrewsbury, José Serpa and his wife Márcia Andrade Serpa of Milton, Cristina Matthews and her partner David Burke of Franklin, and Lena Kilburn of Ashland. She was the loving Vovó to Kyle Matthews, Jake Reardon, Julia Reardon, Sofia Serpa, Nadia Serpa, and her grand-dog Riley. She was the sister to Antonio Garcia Correia, Manuela Correia Henriques, Joao Garcia Correia, Maria do Carmo Henriques, Helena Correia Dias, and José Eduardo Correia. She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Visiting Hours will be held at the Farley Funeral Home, 358 Park Street (Rt. 27), Stoughton, on Thursday February 1st from 4-7 PM. Funeral will be held the next day, Friday February 2nd at the funeral home, at 9:15 AM, followed by a Funeral Mass at Immaculate Conception Church in Stoughton at 10:30 AM. Interment to follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Maria Julia’s memory may be made to

The Maria Julia Serpa Memorial Scholarship

c/o Maria Reardon

P.O Box 655

Shrewsbury, MA 01545