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M. Carmen Sylvia
January 30, 2019

Obituary

M. Carmen (Perez) Sylvia, 92 of Lincoln RI, died peacefully on January 30, 2019 at Elderwood, a skilled nursing facility in Riverside RI after a short period of declining health. She was the beloved wife of the late Franklin J. Sylvia who died in 1980.
Born on January 16, 1927, in Ponta Delgada, St. Michael, Azores, Portugal, the daughter of the late Jose G. and Gilda C. (Carreiro) Perez, she sailed to the United States with her mother arriving in the port of Providence in July 1927. She lived and grew up in New Bedford for many years, moving to North Dartmouth in 1961 where she resided for 56 years before moving to Atria Senior Living at Lincoln Place, Lincoln RI in 2017.
She graduated from New Bedford High School in June 1945 (Upward and Onward) and was secretary of her senior class. She was co-chairman of most class reunions including the 65th in 2010. She graduated from the Kinyon School Evening Division in 1946 with a Secretarial Diploma. She began her career in 1951 as a medical secretary at St. Luke’s Hospital Pathology Lab, then as a medical secretary for Dr. James Radcliffe Jr. She later worked for Brigham Medical Associates for 19 years as a medical secretary and interpreter, retiring in 1992.
She was always an active member of her community. As a teenager, she joined organizations that supported the WW II effort. While a communicant at St. Julie’s Parish, she was a member of the Women’s Guild and Church Choir. She served as Executive Secretary of the Dartmouth Industrial Development Foundation, member of St. Luke’s Hospital Auxiliary, and a “Reading for Ages” volunteer in the New Bedford Elementary Schools. Her love of music and the arts led her to become a volunteer and patron at the Zeiterion Theatre, while also enjoying many bus trips to NYC for Broadway shows. She especially loved “The American Song Book” as sung by Frank Sinatra and was able to see Frank and many others in concert. As a loyal listener to former 89.3 FM with David Reis, she would often call in for a friendly conversation. She was an avid reader, played the piano, enjoyed working in the yard, loved “Round Hill Beach”, looked forward to the biannual (Perez) family reunions and celebrating all holidays with her family.
She is survived by her two sons, Michael J. Sylvia and his wife Elizabeth of Keene NH, and Andrew F. Sylvia and his wife Katherine of North Smithfield RI, and daughter Paula M. Rose and her husband Philip of East Freetown MA; six grandchildren, Matthew J. Sylvia and his wife Heather, Alexandra K. Hernandez and her husband Amid, Stephanie K. Sylvia, Andrea M. Sylvia, Joseph E. Rose and Natalie M. Rose, and two great-grandchildren, Tatum J. Sylvia and Asher W. Sylvia; three sisters, Dolores M. Vasconcellos of New Bedford, MA, Juanita A. Ward of Plymouth MA and Adeline P. Brenizer of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother Carlos M. Perez and sister Gilda P. Harrison.
The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Dr. John Niedzwicki and his staff, and the staff at both at Atria and Elderwood for the skilled, compassionate, and loving care they provided.
Her Funeral will be held on Monday February 11th at 9:00 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park Street, New Bedford, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Julie Billiart Church in Dartmouth at 10:00 AM. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, New Bedford. Visiting hours will be on Sunday, February 10th from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston MA 02284 or via www.jimmyfund.org/gift; or the Zeiterion Theatre, 684 Purchase Street, New Bedford, MA 02740 or via www.zeiterion.org.
For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

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Saunders-Dwyer Funeral Homes
495 Park Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
508-994-0100