Helen (Dutra) Sylvia, 103, of Fairhaven, passed peacefully at home on March 17, 2014, with her loving family surrounding her. She was the wife of the late Louis Sylvia.
Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Angelica daGloria (Alves) and Joseph Silveira Dutra, an Azorean whaler, she lived in Dartmouth for most of her life. For the last two years she had lived with her daughter by the water in Fairhaven.
She was a communicant of St. Mary's Church, South Dartmouth.
Her family and her faith were the center of her life. She was an avid knitter and baker.
She is survived by her daughter, Dr. Mary Sylvia-Reardon, widow of Jeremiah J. Reardon, of Fairhaven; eight grandchildren, Scott Soares, Dr. Gregory Soares and his wife Dr. Barbara, Brian Soares and his wife Donna, Stephanie Soares and her fiancé Mark Blaise, Daniel Pike and his fiancée Kayla Cabral, John Pike and his wife Candra, Matthew Pike and his wife Kati, and Nicholas Pike and his wife Jessica; 13 great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Samuel, Jacob, Grace, Mariyah, Saydee, Emily, Zachary, Hailey, Owen, Evangeline, Helena, and Madison; and many nieces and nephews. Her fourteenth great-grandchildren will be born in the near future.
She was the sister of the late Joseph, Sedjo, Antone, Albert, Mame, Angelina, Lena, Clara, Rose, Carrie, Laura, Louise, Margaret, Dorothy and Lillian.
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday at 10:30 AM at St. Mary's Church, South Dartmouth. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be Tuesday 4-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.