Geraldine A. (Pemberton) Gomes,72, of Fall River died Sunday September 11, 2011 at home after a courageous battle with breast cancer. She was the wife of Manuel P. Gomes.
Born in Fall River, the daughter of the late Joseph and Mary (Cabral) Pemberton, she lived in New Bedford for many years before returning to Fall River in 1997. She was a graduate of Mount St. Mary Academy in Fall River.
Mrs. Gomes was formerly employed as the Executive Director for Onboard, Inc. and was Director of Volunteer Services for the Plymouth Bay Girl Scout Council. She later worked as a certified nursing assistant for Southcoast Visiting Nurses and was a foster grandmother for the Fall River Public School Department.
She was a member of the New Bedford Commission on Alcoholism, the Cape Verdean American Veterans Ladies Auxiliary, and the Susan Sullivou Temple #94.
Mrs. Gomes was active in local politics and was the first minority woman to run for City Council.
Survivors include her husband; two children, Mark and Cheryl Gomes; her siblings, Joseph, James, Warren, Robert, Gregory, and Sheila Pemberton, Colleen White, Beverly Rodriguez, and Cynthia Mills; and many nieces, nephews and godchildren.
She was the sister of the late Elaine, Kenneth, and Gordon Pemberton and Arnold "Sonny" Greene.
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday at 9 AM at Our Lady of the Assumption Church. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery. Visitng hours Thursday 4-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 249 Roosevelt Ave., Pawtucket, RI 02860. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.