Ema M. Pinheiro, 74, of New Bedford passed away Saturday July 20, 2019 at home after a brief illness.
Born in Brava, Cape Verde, the daughter of the late Laurindo Alfaia and Maria Eduarda (Pinheiro) Nicolau, she lived in Angola before moving to New Bedford in 1977.
She was a member of Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Ema was formerly employed by Chamberlain Manufacturing and later worked as a caregiver for Better Community Living, Overlook, and Kennedy Donovan Center.
She is survived by two daughters, Filomena Reyes and Maria M. Fortes, both of New Bedford; two brothers, Jose Alfaia and Viriato Alfaia, both of Switzerland; three sisters, Maria Helena Furtado of New Bedford, Gorette Alfaia of Portugal, and Ana Alfaia of Switzerland; her stepfather, Vasco Nicolau of New Bedford; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
She was the mother of the late Carlos Fortes and Luis Fortes.
Her Funeral will be held on Thursday July 25, 2019 at 8 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, followed by her Funeral Service at the Portuguese Seventh-day Adventist Church, 413 Rockdale Ave., New Bedford at 9 AM. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Wednesday July 24, 2019 from 4-8 PM. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.