Mildred Louise (Lynch) Sowa, age 85, died of complications due to COPD and emphysema on November 24, 2017, at her home in Freetown, MA surrounded by her children. She was born in Medford, MA on April 26, 1932, to parents William and Mary (Grady) Lynch. She was the loving mother to Kathleen Nasser and her husband Francis of Delray Beach, FL and Oak Bluffs, MA, Brian Santos of Acushnet, and Lisa Leonard and her husband Mark of Oak Bluffs, MA. She was predeceased in death by her son Timothy Santos and her husband Atty. Ferdinand B. Sowa. She was grandmother to Mark Liarikos, Macaila Saunders, Ian Saunders and Brianna Santos, and great-grandmother to Finnlee and Stella Saunders. She was the sister to Dorothy Anthony, John Lynch, Robert Lynch, Barbara Demello, and the late Margaret Ferguson, Irene Lynch, William Lynch Arthur Lynch, Elizabeth Newell, and Rose Mary Connors.
As a young woman, Millie traveled to Martha’s Vineyard to work for the Giordano family in Oak Bluffs. She loved being there and introduced her parents to the island where they later bought a summer home. She worked at many of the island restaurants where she met her first husband Joseph “Chick” Santos. They later moved to Acushnet to raise their four children. Millie worked as a waitress and spent many years at Mike’s in Fairhaven. She lived to entertain customers and friends. Back in the day you could find her at the Cathay Temple singing or throwing a party at her summer home at Antassawamock, Mattapoisett. She loved to golf, bowl, collect shells on the beach, garden and play cards with her brothers and sisters.
She owned and operated Millie’s Laundry on Union Street in New Bedford and never turned anyone away. She fed and provided a kind word to the visiting fisherman, the homeless, and the drug addicted.
Millie enjoyed the company of her “lunch bunch”, Anne, Jackie, Joan, Mary Jane and Rosa who continued to visit with her when she could no longer leave the house. Her son, Brian cared for her over the last year so that she could remain at the home which she loved.
At her request, her remains have been received by Harvard Medical School for anatomical research. Father Greg from St John Neumann Church will officiate at a prayer service followed by a Celebration of Life on Sunday, November 26, at 12:00 Noon at the Country Club of New Bedford, 585 Slocum Rd., Dartmouth. All are welcome to attend.
The family would like to thank Southcoast VNA Hospice for their kindness and support. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.