Hilda S. Ray
...born in the Azores; age 90
TEWKSBURY - Hilda S. (Silva - Fonseca) Ray, age 90, a Tewksbury resident since 1991, died
unexpectedly Thursday afternoon, Feb. 17, at her Tewksbury home. She was the wife of Alfredo
Fonseca who died in 1960, and Joseph J. Ray, who died in 1978.
She was born in the Azores, Oct. 23, 1914, a daughter of the late John and Maria (Sousa) Silva.
She raised her family in the Azores, and emigrated to the U.S. in 1966, following the death of her
first husband. She settled in Morrow Bay, California, with her second husband. She moved to
Massachusetts in 1971, and settled in Tewksbury 1991.
She was fondly remembered by her family as having held a great sense of humor and an overriding
devotion to her family throughout her life. She enjoyed gardening, was a devout Catholic, and
was proud of her Portugese heritage.
Since her move to Tewksbury, she was a communicant of St. William’s Church.
She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, John S. Fonseca and his wife Luiza (Borba)
who reside in the Azores, Arnold S. Fonseca and his wife Maria of Tewksbury; two daughters and
sons-in-law, Maria Isabel Garcia and her husband Antonio of Cambridge, Alda M. Vicente and
her husband Jose of Tewksbury, with whom Mrs. Ray shared her home; a sister, Maria Moniz of
Billerica; ten grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.
Her Funeral Mass was held
Tuesday, Feb. 22, in St. William’s Church, Tewksbury. Burial was in St. Mary’s Cemetery, No. Tewksbury.
Memorials to UNICEF, 333 East 38th St., New York, NY 10016, will be appreciated.