Dilovinda L. (Leal) Sousa, 85, a resident of Lawrence, died on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at the Merrimack Valley Hospice House in Haverhill.
She was born in Graciosa, Azores, Portugal on January 15, 1927 to Alfredo and Idalina (Chaves) Leal. Dilovinda was educated in the local schools there. She worked as a Seamstress for military families on the US Air Force Base on the Island of Terceira going from home to home making clothing for women and children, she later moved to the United States and she worked for Polo Manufacturing for over 20 years until her retirement. Her passion was her making quilts for her family and friends.
She is the wife of the late Joao Avila De Sousa. She is survived by her daughters: Maria Joao Parreira and her husband John of Lawrence, Lucia F. Matos and her husband Dr. Nelson Matos of Lawrence and her son: Rui F. Sousa and his wife Patricia of Las Vegas, Nevada, her step daughter: Calmerina Sousa of Lawrence, as well as 11 grand children 6 great grand children. She is predeceased by her sons: Eligio Avila and Rui Sousa. She is also survived by her: sister Argentina Mendonsa of California, her brother Eduino Leal of Ontario, Canada her brother Olimpio Leal of Toronto, Canada, her sister Eulalia Garcia of San Jose, CA, her brother Eliseu Leal of Methuen, her sister-in-law Maria Leal of Haverhill. Dilovinda is predeceased by her brothers Gabriel Leal, Bernardino Leal, Fernando Leal and Alfredo Leal. also survived by several nieces and nephews.
A funeral mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at 10:00AM in Corpus Christi Church in Lawrence. A burial will follow in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Lawrence.
Friends may call on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 from 5:00PM to 8:00PM at the John Memorial Funeral Home Inc. 122 Amesbury Street, Lawrence, MA. 01841. For more information or to send an online condolence please go to: www.breenfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to: Lawrence General Hospital, 1 General Street, Lawrence, MA, 01841.