Obituary of Diana M. (Rodas) Furtado

Diana (Rodas) Furtado, 57, of Peabody, died early Tuesday morning at the Cedar Glen Nursing Home in Danvers following a brief illness. She was the devoted wife of Manuel Furtado. Born in Peabody, she was the daughter of the late John and Alice (Cunha) Rodas. She was raised and educated in Peabody and attended Peabody Public Schools. She later lived in Alabama and Florida before returning back to Peabody 20 years ago. Prior to her illness, Diana worked in the culinary arts field for over 40 years as a cook. She worked in several venues, including most recently with Steve’s Food Service, Cardinal Health and Salem Hospital. She also ran a diner in Alabama and Florida before she moved back to Peabody. Diana enjoyed spending time with her family and taking mini vacations from Cape Cod to Boston and several other local areas. She enjoyed pointing out historical sites and fun facts about certain areas. She was always there for others, and was a considered to a person people could count on. Besides her loving husband, she will be dearly missed by her son Michael Welch of Peabody, a sister, Rosalina “Rose” and her husband Manny Costa of Peabody, her step children, Joe and Brian Furtado and Stephanie and her husband Joao Medeiros, all of Peabody, two aunts, Marie Kerkorian of Peabody and Margaret Cunha of Acushnet, an uncle, Raymond Fontaine of Peabody, a nephew, Manuel Costa and a niece, Maureen Albright, her great nieces and nephews, Natasha Farren, and Jared and Hunter Costa, a grandson, Eric Medeiros and her dear friends Arthur and Carol Brown of Hamilton. The family also wishes to thank all the nurse’s and staff at the Cedar Glen Nursing Home for their compassion and support during this most difficult time. Her funeral service will be held on Friday at 9:00 AM from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn Street, Peabody, Facility, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 AM in St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Peabody to which relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday from 4:00 until 8:00 PM. Burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. Expressions of sympathy can be sent to the Peabody Dialysis Center, 19 A Centennial Dr. Peabody, MA 01960.