Alicia E. Ventura, 57, of Beverly, passed away Thursday, January 4, 2018 at Lahey Clinic Hospital in Burlington, following a courageous battle with cancer. She was the wife of the late Guillermo A. Melo.
Born in Rio San Juan in the Dominican Republic, she was the daughter of the late Juan Ventura and Digna Vasquez. Alicia was an intelligent, gifted and clever young woman who owned and operated a commercial fishing fleet and retail fish market in the Dominican Republic. In 1997 she and her family came to the North Shore where she worked as a sous-chef for the Salem Country Club until her health began to fail.
Despite her young age, she was the matriarch of the family and the rock that held the family together. She was devoted to her family, generous, loving and caring. She will be greatly missed.
She is survived by her son, Guillermo Melo of the Dominican Republic, four daughters, Yanira Melo of the Dominican Republic, Nurys Melo of Florida, Maria & Ana Melo both of Salem, her grandchildren, Larimar, Jaycab, Lindsey, Mikela, Alicia, Sofia and Michael as well as her large extended family.
Relatives and friends are invited to her Funeral Mass on Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at 11:00 AM in St. John the Baptist Church, 17 Church St., Peabody (Behind City Hall). There will be no visiting hours.
Assisting the family with arrangements is the Levesque Funeral Home of Salem. For guestbook, please visit www.LevesqueFunerals.com