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Elja Maria Bagaco

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Published on May 25, 2019

Gloucester, MA – Elja (Maria) Bagaco, 61, wife of Delio Bagaco, passed away on May 1, 2019 in her home, surrounded by her loving family, after a long battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

Elja was born in Lajes do Pico, A’cores, she is the daughter of Manuel and Lina (Soares) Neves and late grandparents Luis and Rosa Duarte Neves, Beatriz and Joao Soares.

In October 1966, Elja immigrated to the United States with her family. Elja graduated Gloucester High School in 1977. Later she went on to attend Mount Ida College and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Mortuary Science and worked for many years in the funeral business.

In 1969, Elja met the love of her life, Delio, where their summer romances bloomed into a marriage on August 1, 1978. They had three children who have always been her number one priority and had many adventures with Delio in their almost 41 years of marriage.

She and her husband owned various businesses, to name a few, one being the very first paintball company called, Weekend Warriors, Home Port Cafe and most recently, Life Celebrations. She loved to hostess and was inspired to make people happy. She also enjoyed ceramics, as she was an amazing artist. She had several passions near and dear, those of which were caring for animals, as she had many over the years, a passion for cooking and baking, as she did a lot of while helping raise her grandchildren. Elja also loved gardening and sitting outside.

She was the former President of the Ladies Auxiliary at the D.E.S. Portuguese Club in Gloucester and is also an honorary member of The Mother of Grace Club, where she had the privilege in maintaining her beauty and image.
Elja is survived by a son Klynn Bagaco and his wife, Kelcey of Rockport; two daughters, Delia Morrissey and her husband, Zachary; Amra Briguglio and her husband Matteo; one sister Elga Lottatore and her husband, Joseph; six grandchildren, Isabella and Christopher Forbes, Luc Morrissey, Lillianna Sclafani, Giuseppe Briguglio and Kaitlyn Gaus. Also, many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

In keeping with her wishes there will be a memorial Mass at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church, Saturday June 1, 2019 at 10:30 a.m., followed by a Celebration of Life at the D.E.S Portuguese Club, 133 Prospect Street, Gloucester. Family and friends are cordially invited. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to: Compassionate Care ALS, 752 West Falmouth Highway, Falmouth, MA 02540 or Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan Street Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington St., Gloucester, MA 01930. For online guest book please visit: www.greelyfuneralhome.com.