Maria “Carmen” (Melo) Silva, 48 years old, of Stoughton, passed away Monday June 15, 2009 peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was the devoted wife of John A. Silva. Born and raised in St. Michael, Azores, she was a daughter of Leonardo and Eduarda (Borges) Melo of Somerville. Carmen came to the United States at the age of 14 living in Somerville and for the past 20 years in Stoughton. She was a 1979 graduate of Somerville High School. At the time of her death she was employed as an assistant cashier at Boston Mutual Life Insurance in Canton. She worked at Boston Mutual for the past 10 years and had previously been employed at the former Hills Department Store Headquarters in Canton. Carmen enjoyed traveling, singing, dancing, gardening around her home and cooking. She especially enjoyed entertaining and family gatherings. She was a longtime communicant of Immaculate Conception Church in Stoughton where she was a member of the Portuguese Choir.
Carmen is survived by her husband John A. Silva; two daughters Jennifer Bradford and her husband William of Middleboro and Ashley Silva of Stoughton; two sisters Estrela Andre and her husband John of Vancouver, BC; Ana Melo and her husband Tom Platz of Tewksbury; a brother Joe Melo and his wife Natalie of Stoughton; sister in law Lucy Furtado and her husband Joe of West Peabody and father in law of Humberto Silva of Stoughton. She is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, her loving nieces and nephew and many friends. She was the daughter in law of the late Maria Silva. She will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Funeral from the Conley Funeral Home, 138 Belmont Street (Rte 123) Brockton Friday at 8am. Funeral Mass in Immaculate Conception Church, Stoughton at 9am. Burial in Evergreen Cemetery, Stoughton. Visiting hours Thursday 4-8pm. Donations in Carmen’s name may be made to the American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer Awareness, 1115 W. Chestnut Street, #301, Brockton, MA 02301. For online donations click here