Sophie (Leite) LaFrance, 89, of Mattapoisett died Sunday April 29, 2007 peacefully at her home surrounded by her family. She was the wife of the late Oliver LaFrance.
Born in Acushnet, the daughter of the late Manuel and Mary (Leite) Pacheco, Sophie attended local schools and was employed in various jobs during the Depression and was later trained as a nurse during World War II. Upon her marriage, she relocated to New Bedford and then to Mattapoisett where she resided for the past 50 years.
A loving and joyful wife, mother and grandmother, Sophie led a fulfilling life which spanned two World Wars, the Great Depression and the Boston Red Sox finally winning the World Series. She enjoyed stained glass work, painting, cooking, and Tai Chi, but, most importantly, her home and the company of her family and friends.
Sophie leaves her two sons, Allan and his wife Mary of Nantucket, and Phillip and his wife Mamie of Brooklin, Maine; her daughter, Nancy L. O'Brien of Mattapoisett; seven grandchildren, Christopher and Claire LaFrance of Nantucket, Neal and Alex LaFrance of Brooklin, and Oliver, Molly, and Katherine O'Brien of Mattapoisett; two brothers, Abel and Manuel Leite, both of New Bedford; her beloved cousin, "Tillie" Abreu of New Bedford; and her devoted friend, Kay Lowney of Mattapoisett. She was predeceased by her brothers Ernest, Toby, and Caesar, and her sister Mary.
Sophie's family would like to express their gratitude to Sherry Burgo for her compassionate care and Milly's Girls.
Her Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday at 2:30 PM in the Unitarian Memorial Church, 102 Green St., Fairhaven. Burial will be private. Visiting hours Tuesday 4-7 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6), Mattapoisett. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Community Nurse and Hospice Care, P.O. Box 751, Fairhaven, MA 02719. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.