Obituary of Fernanda Maria (Saraiva) Pinho</b?

Fernanda Maria (Saraiva) Pinho, 93, of Peabody, died early Wednesday morning at her home. She was the devoted wife of Fausto C. Pinho with whom she shared over 74 years of marriage. Mrs. Pinho was born in Lisbon, Portugal, to the late Francisco and Hylda (Prosper) Saraiva. She came to the United States when she was 6 ½ years old and has been living in Peabody ever since. She attended Peabody Schools. She was a communicant of Our Lady of Fatima Church and was one of the many who contributed towards the building of the Church. Mrs. Pinho, also known as Ferny, was employed at the GTE Sylvania Plant for over 44 years, of which she spent 27 years on supervision on different occasions starting at the Boston Street Plant which was then the Hygrade Company. She retired from GTE Sylvania in 1979. In 1969, she was involved in the hiring of over 100 Portuguese people and was the interpreter for most of them. She had been very active in the Portuguese Community, and was a member of a Dramatic Group and various dance Groups, performing throughout New England, New York, and New Jersey. She participated in many of the cities parades and also on the Arlene Frances T.V. Home Show on Cape Cod, representing Portugal. In 1994 she honored with the Portuguese Family of the Year by the Portuguese Continental Union Society. She was the secretary and treasurer of the first Ladies Auxiliary Group of the Club Luis de Camoes of Peabody for many years, a member of the former American Civic League of Peabody, GTE’s Sylvania Quarter Century Club, and Sylvania Retiree’s Club, Peabody Council on Aging, and the Community Life Center of Peabody. She enjoyed crocheting, knitting Afghans for her children and grandchildren, and she also loved to read and write poems. In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Edward and Barbara (Karra) Pinho of Palm Bay FL and NH, two daughters and sons-in-law, Sandra and George Wilkins of Peabody and Brenda and Emanuel Brazil of Salem, a brother and sister-in-law, Francisco and Ann Saraiva of Danvers, and is also survived by 4 grandchildren, Edward and his wife Suzanne Pinho, Todd and his wife Sally Pinho, and Justin and Jannel Almeida, 5 great grandchildren, Kyliah Fernanda and Nataliah Maria Almeida, Rebecca Barbara, Molly Elizabeth, and Corey David Pinho, and is also survived by several nieces and nephews, cousins in Lisbon, Portugal, and many friends. She was also the Godmother of Carlos Costas of Lisbon, Portugal, David LaMontagne of Ipswich, and the late Joseph Batista and Charles Gomes. She was the sister of the late Edith Vorel. Her Funeral will be held on Saturday at 11:00 AM from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody Facility, followed by a Funeral Mass at 12:00 Noon in Our Lady of Fatima Church, Peabody, to which relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours are on Friday from 4:00 until 8:00 PM. Burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. Contributions may be made in her memory to Our Lady of Fatima Church, Walsh Ave, Peabody, MA 01960 or to the Portuguese American for Higher Education, C/O of Luso American Credit Union, 37 Tremont St., Peabody, MA 01960 or the Portuguese American War Veterans, Post #1, Tremont St., Peabody, MA 01960.