On Friday, December 15, 2023, Maria Lourdes (Camara) Carvalho, 90, of Somerset, passed away peacefully following a brief illness.  She passed as she lived, surrounded by her family. She was predeceased by her devoted husband of seventy-one years, Antonio Carvalho.  A resident of Somerset for the past 60 years, Maria was born in São Vicente Ferreira, São Miguel, Azores to the late Manuel Pedro Camara and the late Maria da Conceicao (Almeida) Camara.

Maria was an accomplished seamstress and sample maker.  Prior to her retirement, she was employed with Rhondo Knit Sportswear for many years. She was a longtime active member of Our Lady of Light Band and Our Lady of Light Society.  A woman of strong faith, Maria was a parishioner at St. John of God Church and a member of its Holy Rosary Society. She enjoyed volunteering for the Great Feast of the Holy Ghost in Fall River, and loved gardening, sewing, cooking for her family, and traveling.  She crafted elaborate embroidered items for many of her loved ones.  She traveled with her Antone to Brazil, Madeira, Puerto Rico, California, Washington, and Canada, as well as numerous times to São Miguel.  Maria always had a smile on her face, and an infectious laugh.

She is survived by her loving children, Mary L. Silva and her husband Luis of Swansea, Evelina F. Amaral and her husband Jose of Assonet, Ercilia Costa and her husband Carlos of Somerset, and Manuel A. Carvalho and his wife Susan (Heaney) of Swansea; seven grandchildren, Elizabeth Burns (Jason), Caroline Varteresian (Jacob), Karen Tavares (Eric), Joseph Amaral (Kristy Almeida), Richard Amaral (Rebecca), Margaret Carvalho (Nicole Richey), and Antonio (A.J.) Carvalho (Kaela); thirteen great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was the sister of Evelina Mendes (late husband Jose) of Fall River and the late Agostinho Camara (wife Gloria) of Somerset, and sister-in-law of Carmina Carvalho (late husband Luis) of Fall River and the late Maria and Jose Costa.

Maria's Funeral Mass was celebrated on Thursday, December 21st, at St. John of God Church in Somerset followed by her committal and entombment at the  Notre Dame Cemetery Mausoleum in Fall River. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Maria's memory to: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Family members are always grateful for relatives and friends wishing to make in-person expressions of kindness and support. If you were unable to do so, 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