Helen P. (Ellis) Lopes, 95, of New Bedford died Saturday July 16, 2011 at home surrounded by her family. She was the wife of the late Lawrence B. Lopes.
Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Claude Melnott Ellis and Helen Louise (Gwynn) Ellis Barton, she lived here all of her life. Her American Indian given name was Eastern Morning Butterfly.
She was a member of Grace Episcopal Church.
Mrs. Lopes was formerly employed as a stitcher at Eastern Sportswear until her retirement. She later worked at Coastline Elderly, the Schwartz Center for Children, Carney Academy, and the Parker School. She had also been a waitress at the Cape Verdean Ultramarine Band Club.
Survivors include five daughters, Patricia L. Lomba, Lorraine H. Lopes, Elizabeth A. Cabral and her husband Valentino, and Lucille P. Nobre, all of New Bedford, and Naomi E. Gonsalves and her husband John of Dartmouth; ten grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was the mother-in-law of the late John F. Lomba, Joseph Andrade, and Phillip C. Nobre.
Her Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday at 10 AM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. Burial will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Tuesday from 6-8 PM. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.