Obituary of Maria Joao (Silva) Sousa Freitas

Maria J. (Silva) Sousa Freitas, 55, of Beverly, passed away Tuesday morning at the Kaplan Family Hospice House, following a lengthy battle with cancer. She was the beloved wife of Vitor Freitas. Maria was born in Graciosa, Azores, Portugal, on December 17, 1962, daughter of the late Joao Pedro Silva & Etelvina (Lima)Silva. She was raised there until moving to the United States and at a young age. She was a graduate of Salem High School, Class of 1980. Prior to her illness, she was working as a Customer Service Representative for Eastern Bank in Lynn. She was a parishioner of Our Lady of Fatima Church, and an active member of the Azorean Brotherhood of the Divine Holy Ghost, both in Peabody. In her spare time she enjoyed visiting the Salem Willows, traveling back to her home island of Graciosa, taking care of her parents, but most importantly being surrounded by her loving family, especially her granddaughter, Juliana. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her. Besides her husband she is survived by her children, Ringo Sousa, and Kirbie Sousa ; her grandchildren, Brogin Riley Sousa and Juliana Sousa Abreu; her siblings, John Silva & his wife Helia, Paul J. Silva, and Maria Coolidge Silva; her nieces and nephews, Kassy Sousa, Patrick Sousa, Amanda Sousa, Shantel Silva, and Paul Silva, Jr., and many extended family and friends. A Visitation will be held on Friday, July 13, from 4-8P.M P.M at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., in Peabody. Her funeral will be held on Saturday, July 14, at the funeral home at 8A.M., followed by a funeral mass in Our Lady of Fatima Church, 50 Walsh Ave., Peabody at 9A.M. She will be laid to rest in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem.