Tânia Leal, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away on October 4, 2026, in Cherokee County, Georgia.

Tânia was born in São Luiz Gonzaga, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and grew up in Porto Alegre. She eventually built a life in the United States with her family, a country she came to love deeply and was proud to call home.

Tânia loved Christ, and her faith was an important part of who she was. She had a strong personality and a strong sense of what she believed was right, but she was also discreet, meek, and deeply compassionate. She had a remarkable ability to listen—really listen—and then offer advice or direction with the kind of motherly love that made you know she cared, even when you weren't necessarily asking for advice.

She loved her family intensely. She was always connected to the people she loved, whether they were nearby or far away. Family was at the center of her life, and she took great joy in watching her children and grandchildren grow.

She also knew how to enjoy life. She loved her cats, Hope and Joy, music, specialty coffees, and just about any good sweet, pie, or cake. She loved reading and gardening, beaches and mountains, barbecues and animals. She found happiness in ordinary things and had a way of making those things part of the memories people carry with them.

Tânia was also a very good friend. Many of her friendships lasted for decades, and she made a real effort to stay connected to the people who mattered to her. She listened to their stories, kept in touch, remembered the details, and cared about what was happening in their lives. Her friendships were not casual—they were relationships she nurtured and carried with her through the years.

For her family, though, she was simply Mom, wife, and Grandma. She was the person who listened, worried, advised, encouraged, loved fiercely, and was always there in her own way. Her presence shaped the lives of the people around her, and there is no replacing it.

She is survived by her husband, Antonio; her sons, Abel, Daniel, and Diego; her daughter-in-law, Gabrielle; her grandchildren, Christopher and Elizabeth, and daughter-in-law Ana.

Tânia leaves behind a life full of faith, family, friendships, laughter, strong opinions, quiet kindness, and an enormous amount of love. She will be missed more than words can say, but she will continue to live in the people she loved and in the countless memories she left behind.