On the evening of January 3, 2025, Natalia Botelho Avelar slipped away peacefully in the company of her daughters, Helena and Paula.

Natalia was born on February 10, 1936, in the parish of Santo Antonio, Sao Miguel, Açores. She was the second of seven children, Constantina the eldest, and João, Manuel, Antonio, Eduarda, and José following.

In those years, life in the Açores was difficult and families made the most out of the very little they had. Wanting better opportunities for his growing family, Natalia’s father moved them to Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel, the capital of the Açores archipelago where they had more opportunities to study and work.

Having already finished her studies and loving to work with her hands, Natalia quickly found employment at an established embroidery house. Artisan quality hand-embroidery works were vital to the island’s economy and rooms filled with skilled artisans quickly turned out luxurious embroidered linens to be exported all around the world. In addition, Natalia and her older sister became seamstresses and between the embroidery work and making garments for others, they added to the family’s income to help feed the increasing number of mouths to feed.

With the assistance of mutual friends, Natalia met a handsome young man, José Maria Avelar. In search of better opportunities himself, he had come to Ponta Delgada (from the island of Flores, Açores) to apprentice as a tailor. Two young dreamers, they learned they had much in common; they loved to dance, they loved the movies, they loved fashion, they were both gifted at sewing, and they dreamed of big adventures.

On April 30,1961, they were married and by 1962 they had emigrated to the United States. Due to paperwork delays Natalia wasn’t able to travel to the states with her husband, so they spent the first several months of their marriage apart. José Maria traveled ahead and settled in Arcata, CA where he found work in the timber industry and had some family members nearby. Natalia arrived in Arcata on April 5,1962 expecting to find the Hollywood Hills, red convertibles, and Rock Hudson of her dreams but instead, found 1960s Arcata. Although it took some adjustment, Natalia quickly acclimated and fell in love with the rural charm of the small town life. For those who knew her best, they will remember her often exclaiming “There’s no place like home!”

Big adventure brought them to a new country where they didn’t understand the language, or the customs and it left them feeling isolated and yearning for connection with familiar community. Natalia and José Maria began attending St Mary’s Catholic Church and became actively involved at the Arcata Portuguese Hall, ingraining themselves in the fabric of the local Portuguese community, celebrating the traditions and festas that tied them, and others across Humboldt County, together.

They soon began volunteering for both and over the years spent thousands of hours giving of their time, talents, and helping where they could. It was during this time they made life-long friendships and cherished memories. They both studied English and learned the US government’s fundamentals and proudly became naturalized American citizens, Natalia in 1967 and Jose Maria in 1970.

They worked hard, made sacrifices, and the following year were able to purchase their own home and soon after, a new car. They put down roots and had their first child, Helena. They lived modestly but always made fun out of very little. Short trips to nearby destinations, picnics nearly every Sunday during the summer, fishing on Mad River beach, long and lazy Sunday drives to gaze upon beautiful homes and gardens while the car radio blasted, exploring the beauty of the HSU campus on foot, and photos taken on the then immaculately manicured Arcata Plaza; it was all fun. They also traveled further away, making their first trip back home to the Açores in 1972.

In 1975 they were blessed with their second daughter, Annapaula. This completed their family and they were able to build a lasting place in their community.

They never lost the love to travel and explore. They vacationed with friends and family to Reno, Lake Tahoe, and all over California and later they traveled through western Europe, Canada, took several cruises, and made many trips to the east coast to visit with family.

Natalia worked in various jobs in the early years and when her eldest daughter was five and ready to attend school, she stayed home to run the household. Natalia demonstrated her love for others with her gifts of hands and heart. She sewed all of her children’s clothing as well as her own, organized and worked hundreds of bake sales, and she was a fantastic cook and baker. A delivery person fortunate enough to deliver on a baking day would be sent off with a loaf of Portuguese sweet bread or bag filled with cookies.

Years later Natalia went to work for Holly Yashi Jewelry where she worked for over 22 years. She loved her job, the many friendships she made, and all the fun that was had while working there. Natalia retired when her granddaughters, Ava and Sophia Walton, were born. She cooked for them, made them frilly dresses, played with them, and she and José Maria helped raise them while their parents, Paula and Jeff, were at work. Ava and Sophia were the brightest and most precious jewels in her family crown and she will now be their special angel.

In September 2019 Natalia suffered a stroke that left her in a wheelchair and without the ability to do the things she loved the most. Typical of her personality she made the most of her situation and while life became more isolated due to her stroke and then the pandemic, she and José Maria found a new way to live. It was quieter and less active, but it was a sweet time spent reminiscing about their lives together, dreams realized, their adventures, and all the fun they had together and with their friends. They felt they had done pretty well for a couple of young dreamers who traveled from two tiny islands in the Atlantic to an unknown country with little more than the clothes on their back and a few dollars in their pockets.

Natalia was preceded in death by her parents, João and Constantina Botelho, and two of her younger brothers, Antonio and José. She leaves behind her husband of nearly 64 years, José Maria Avelar, who took such beautiful care of her. He tended to her every need over the last five years, and we are forever grateful to him for his loyalty and selflessness. Daughters, Helena Avelar and Annapaula Walton (and husband Jeff) and Granddaughters Ava and Sophia Walton, and her remaining siblings Constantina Medeiros, João (Filomena) Botelho, Manuel Botelho, and Eduarda (Januario) Pereira, including many nieces and nephews, and their spouses and children.

For most people who only knew Natalia in passing they’d think of her as a quiet woman with a lovely, warm smile. For her inner circle, they knew she was hilarious and known for her zippy one-liners. Natalia leaves an immeasurable void, but our hearts are filled with gratitude that her passing was peaceful and she’s now free.

Funeral mass will be held Saturday, January 11, 2025, at 11 a.m., St Mary’s Catholic Church, Arcata. Private interment to follow.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Natalia Avelar’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.