Maria José Franco Vieira (Pessoca) 79, died peacefully on October 17, 2017 surrounded by her family at Longmeadow of Taunton. Maria José was born on May 4, 1938 in Povoação, São Miguel, Azores, daughter of the late José Franco and Maria José Moniz Franco.
While in the Azores, she was instrumental in raising her six children and helping her late husband with planting and harvesting the fields. Maria José moved with her late husband and six children to Taunton, MA in May of 1977 in search of a better life for her family. She worked at Walk-Over Shoe Company in Bridgewater from 1977 until the company closed in 1992.
Maria José was a dedicated wife and mother. She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, especially during the holidays. Maria José was a passionate cook. She loved cooking for her family and always had food ready for any drop-in company. She was an avid crotchetier and seamstress. Maria José was the life of the party. She always had a good joke or story, not always innocent, and her laughter was contagious. She was a communicant of St. Anthony’s Church in Taunton and participated in the traditional Holy Ghost by ordering penções from several local irmandades.
She was the beloved wife of 56 years of the late Manuel Melo Vieira of Taunton. She is also survived by her children Manuel Vieira and his wife Fernanda of Taunton, José Luis Vieira and his wife Margarida of Raynham, Cecilia Pimental and her husband Dinarte of East Falmouth, Dennis Vieira of Taunton, Carmen Dwyer of Buzzards Bay, and her late son Tony Vieira of Taunton. Maria José is also survived by ten grandchildren, Daryl and Daniel Vieira of Taunton, Keith Pimental of New Bedford, Jessica Vieira of Fall River, Amanda Pimental of Bridgewater, Mike Richman of New Bedford, Ashley Vieira of Taunton, Anthony, Nina and Keegan Vieira of Brockton, and three great grandchildren Leanna Vieira, Avaeh Richman O’Connor and Noah Vieira Clark. She is also survived by her brothers Agostinho Franco and Sezar Franco of Taunton. Maria José also had one older sister and eight older brothers who pre-deceased her.
Mrs. Vieira’s funeral will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2017 at 9:45 am from the Silva Funeral Home 80 Broadway (at Saint Mary’s Square) Taunton, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11am in Saint Anthony Church, 126 School St., Taunton.
Interment will follow in Saint Joseph Cemetery, Taunton.
Visiting hours will be held on Friday, October 20, 2017 from 4 to 7pm.
(additional parking with handicap access is located on the north side of the funeral
home)
For expressions of sympathy or to sign an online guestbook, visit www.silvafuneralhome.com