Hilda Tavares, 94, of Westport, wife of the late Gilbert Tavares, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 in the comforts of her family home after a long illness.

Born in Fall River, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of the late Antone Barboza and the late Maria (Soares) Barboza.

She worked in the local textile industry and was an excellent seamstress who earned the position of "Master Sample Maker" (a title only held by men at the time). Hilda also loved knitting, crocheting, embroidering and doing various types of crafts with her family and friends. Hilda led a very vibrant and creative life and very much enjoyed traveling with her late husband throughout the world, sailing with her daughter, son-in-law and their children, and spending weekends with her son on the Watuppa Pond in Westport.  A devout Catholic, she was very active in her church where she served as Eucharistic Minister and CCD teacher for over twenty years. In 1985, Hilda was the recipient of the Marian medal for her outstanding service within the Espirito Santo church and school.

She leaves: her loving children, Gilbert Tavares of Westport and Claudia Tavares  Billings and her husband, James, of Natick, Massachusetts; her three grandchildren, Antone Tavares, Ryan Billings, and Teddy Billings; one great-granddaughter, Angelina Tavares; and one nephew, David Barboza, Jr. of Derby, CT. She was also the sister of the late David Barboza, Sr..

Her Funeral Mass was celebrated on Monday, November 9th, in Espirito Santo Church, followed by her committal at St. Patrick Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation in Hilda's memory to the National Special Olympics, Attn. Web Gifts, 1133 19th Street NW, 12th Floor, Washington, DC 20036-3604.

Family members are always grateful for relatives and friends wishing to make in-person expressions of kindness and support. But if you were unable to do so, because of this pandemic or any other reason, all are urged to express their sympathy online or by mail. To ensure that said condolences and/or sympathy cards reach the family, please always make sure that submissions online are made directly through the funeral home's website ( www.silvafaria.com ) and not through a third party. Thank you