Obituary of Hilda M. (Amaral) Prata

Hilda Marie (Amaral) Prata, 95, of Peabody, died early Monday morning at the Salem Hospital after a brief illness. She was the wife of the late Joseph Prata. She was born in Peabody on October 15, 1912, the daughter of the late Joseph and Adelaide (Bettencourt) Amaral and was a life long resident of the city. She was first employed at the former GTE Sylvania Company at the Boston St., Salem plant for 21 years. She then operated a day care center for many children out of her home for over 15 years. Later, she helped the late Rev. Charles Saudade at the then Portuguese Mission Church with altar cloths and other basic needs of the church that was later named Our Lady of Fatima Church. She then helped Rev. Dan Sheehan at St. Thomas the Apostle Church with the Altar Society and a caretaker at the rectory for many years before retiring 3 years ago. She had been a secretary for the Portuguese American Civic League, and a past president of the Holy Ghost Society of Peabody. She was the first women that belonged to the Luso American Continental of Peabody and was also a member of the Portuguese Folk lore Dancers. She was also involved in helping the election process for Ward 3 in Peabody for over 50 years. She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Maria and Joseph Silva, RN, and Carolyn and John Brown all of Peabody, her four grandchildren, Kristen Lepore of Danvers, Stephanie Doucette of Nahant, Jonathan Brown of Salem and Joseph Silva Jr. of Shrewsbury, two step-grandchildren, Mark and Robie O’Neill, seven great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was the last surviving sibling of the Amaral family that included the late Louis Amaral, William “Bucky” Amaral, Anthony Amaral, Mary Mello and Clemilda Mello. A visitation will be held on Wednesday from 4:00 until 8:00 PM at the Conway,Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home at the 82 Lynn St., Peabody facility. Her funeral will be held on Thursday at 9:00 AM from the Funeral Home followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Peabody/Salem line at 10:00 AM. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the charity of your choice.