Wimauma, Fla – Vanda M. Arruda, formerly of New Bedford and Dartmouth, age 74, passed away on Thursday November 21, 2013 at Lifepath Hospice House Sun City Center in Florida following a long illness. She was the loving wife of Ernest Arruda and the daughter of Berta Maria (Correia) and João Encarnacáo. She was born in São Miguel, Açores and after immigrating to this country 44 years ago, she worked as a Housekeeper in the Cleaning Service at St. George High School in Rhode Island. Mrs. Arruda loved to read romance novels.
Her family includes her husband, Ernest of Wimauma, Fla; a daughter Suzanna Mattson and her husband David, of East Taunton; 2 grandchildren: Amanda and Alexander Mattson; 6 siblings: Berta Encarnacáo and Juvenal Encarnacáo, both of Wimauma, Fla, Eduardo Encarnacáo of California, João Jose R. Encarnacáo and his wife Grinoalda of New Bedford, Jose João R. Encarnacáo and his wife Ana Maria of California and Norberto R. Encarnacáo of New Hampshire; a stepdaughter Lisa Boucher, her husband Barry and their children, Tessa and Aaron, of Rhode Island; and her sister in-law Diane Bellefeuille of Mattapoisett; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Arruda’s funeral will be Wednesday, November 27 at PERRY FUNERAL HOME 111 Dartmouth St in New Bedford beginning at 9:30 A.M. with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church at 10:30 A.M. Interment will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery on Mount Pleasant St in New Bedford. Visiting hours will take place in the funeral home on Tuesday evening from 5 – 8 P.M. Relatives and friends are invited to attend.