Sarah L. (Sands) Duarte, wife of the late Arthur S. Duarte, died peacefully at Longmeadow of Taunton on March 9, 2009.
She was 87.
Born in Taunton, she was the daughter of the late Peter and Antoinette (Mazzoleni) Sands.
A lifelong Taunton resident, Mrs. Duarte was educated in area schools.
A talented seamstress and dressmaker, she enjoyed fashioning clothes for herself and her family, as well as garments for priests, and altar pieces for her church.
She also conducted sewing classes in which she passed on the knowledge of her craft to countless students for many years.
A communicant of Annunciation of the Lord Church, and recipient of the Marian Medal, Mrs. Duarte was active in church life, serving as Eucharistic Minister, and member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
She will be remembered as a hard worker, dedicated to her church and family.
Survivors include 3 sons, Peter F. Duarte and his wife Pamela of Conneautville, PA, Arthur L. Duarte of Raynham, and Frank P. Duarte and his wife Priscilla of N. Dighton; a daughter, Carol R. Oliveri and her husband Marco of W. Hampton, NY; a sister, Margaret Rose of St. Petersburg, FL; 12 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She was also the mother of the late Arnold Duarte, and the sister of the late Lawrence, Peter, and Vincent Sands; and the late Janet Peters.
Her funeral will be held from the Silva Funeral Home, 80 Broadway, Taunton on Friday, March 13th at 8 a.m., followed by a funeral mass at Annunciation of the Lord Church at 9 a.m.
Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend.
Calling Hours will be on Thursday, March 12th from 5 to 8 p.m.
www.silvafuneralhome.com.