Obituary of Isabel Goncalves, MD

Doctor Isabel Goncalves (MD), age 53 of Easton, Connecticut passed away peacefully into the arms of God surrounded by her loving family after a long, valiant battle against metastatic breast cancer. She enjoyed a full and happy life in the company of her wonderful family. She has always felt that her greatest life accomplishment has been raising a family along with the love of her life and husband of many years, Mario Goncalves. Nothing in her life has surpassed the privilege, happiness, and accomplishment of creating a beautiful family and she only wishes that the adventure could have gone on much longer.

Dr. Isabel Maria Vilaverde Alves DeOliveira Goncalves was born in Lisbon, Portugal on May 19, 1969. She was fortunate to have the opportunity to immigrate to the United States at the age of 17 in 1986. She graduated from Fairfield Warde High School and went on to obtain a bachelor's degree in Biology and Chemistry from Fairfield University before obtaining her medical degree from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. At the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, she completed her residency and served as Chief Resident.

Upon graduation, she became a popular local physician in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology, having served thousands of patients and delivered hundreds of babies in her career. She also served as an Assistant Professor of Medicine for the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University, where she had the privilege of positively impacting many future doctors and physician assistants.

She is survived by the love of her life with whom she has been for over 36 years, Mario. She is also survived by the pride and joy of her life, her children, Alex, Catarina, and Sofia, who brought so much joy to her days. She is predeceased by her loving mother, Ester Vilaverde, and her aunt, Lidia Vilaverde DeCarvalho, both of Penalonga, Portugal, and her cousin Fatima Martins Cazares of Bridgeport, Connecticut. She is survived by her father, Jose Alves DeOliveira of Canedo, Portugal. She is also survived by her loving brother, Adriano DeOliveira (Leah), her wonderful niece, Sara DeOliveira (Roger), and their son Leo Hubbard of Southington, Connecticut. She is also survived by her in-laws, Cila Leandres (Michael), and their children David and Lia of Shelton, Connecticut along with Paula Carreira (Paulo) and their children Miguel (Ashley and Arlo) and Joana of Bern, Switzerland. She is also survived by her aunt Maria Lobo and her husband Antonio Lobo of Easton, Connecticut, and their children Gil (Tina) and Michael (Tabitha). She is also survived by her aunt Maria Martins of Bridgeport and her family, Maria da Conceicao (Domingos), Domingos Jr (Jean and Leo), Jason (Megan), Dinis (Sierra), Jose Martins, Benvinda (Ron), AJ and Michael Lucas, all of Shelton, Connecticut, and Carminda Braz (Rui and Caitlyn) of Trumbull, Connecticut. Along with Manuel DeOliveira (Michelle) of Tulare, California, and their families, Sandra Pineda (Luis, Jordan, and Julian), and Manuel DeOliveira (Ashley). Along with Aunt Benvinda (Anibal) of Canedo, Portugal. She's also survived many other loving family members who were a constant source of love and affection and enriched her life for so many years.

She was a loving person who enjoyed her family and will be remembered by others as someone constantly willing to sacrifice her own needs for the betterment of others. Despite all adversity, Isabel always lived by the notion that, no matter how tragic the situation, you have to keep moving forward, taking it one day at a time, and not leaving for tomorrow, what you can do today.

A Mass of Christian Burial Funeral will be celebrated on Friday, February 24, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. in Our Lady of Fatima Church, 429 Huntington Road, Bridgeport. Interment will follow in Lawn Cemetery, Shelton. Relatives and friends may greet the family on Thursday from 4-7 p.m. in the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Rd., Trumbull. 

In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make memorial contributions in Isabel's memory to the Swim Across the Sound c/o St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation, 2800 Main Street, Bridgeport, CT 06606.