Obituary of Rafaela M. Soares

Rafaela M. Soares PEABODY – Rafaela M. Soares, 74, died peacefully on Thursday December 3, 2015 at the Blueberry Hill Nursing Home in Beverly, following an extended illness. Born in San Jorge, Azores, Portugal, she was the daughter of the late Guilherme Jacinto and Maria Correia Soares. She grew up there, emigrated to the United States in 1972, and resided in the City of Peabody for the last 43 years. She was employed by Webster Plastics, Bleyer Industries, and EG & G. In 1980 she began working at St. John the Baptist Church of Peabody where she made many beloved, lifelong friendships. In 1992 she began working at Essex Agricultural School in Danvers until her retirement in 2008. Not being able to stay put these last five years, she began a new career working for NSCAP of Peabody providing home care. She loved meeting new people and catching up with old friends, evening sunsets and tending to her plants. Never turning down a challenge, always loving life with open arms and a warm heart, she lived life in her own way. Rafaela is survived by her only son Raymond, of Peabody; her sisters Carolina Burdette and her husband Richard of Wetumpka, AL, Guimar Silva of Fremont, CA, Clara Soares, Graca Soares, and Guida Soares all of the Azores; her brothers Guilherme Soares of CA and Fernando Soares of San Jose, CA, and Luis Soares of the Azores, and many nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to gather for a visitation on Sunday from 3 – 6 P.M. in the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody. A Family Funeral Service will be held on Monday at 10 AM in the funeral home, with cremation to follow the service. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.