Deonilde ‘Donna’ (Sousa) Silva, 75, of Lowell, passed away on Thursday, January 28, 2021, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born on January 25, 1946, in Sao Gregorio, Caldas da Rainha, Portugal, she was a daughter of the late Americo Sousa and the late Jesuvina M. (Horta) Sousa. She was raised and educated in Portugal before coming to the United States as a teenager with her family, settling in Lowell.
She began working as a stitcher in the textile mills for Scaff and Joan Fabrics until her retirement. She was a communicant of St. Anthony’s Church and enjoyed attending the Parish and Holy Ghost Feasts. Donna loved to cook and could spend hours reading or crocheting, and loved to shop. She enjoyed bird watching with her sister, and loved spending time walking and enjoying nature and watching the wildlife. She will be remembered for her generous spirit and her giving heart.
Donna cherished time spent with her family, especially with her grandchildren and great grandchildren, whom she cared for as her own. Her survivors include her daughter, Lisa Silva-Gallant and her husband, Steve of Lowell; her 2 beloved grandchildren, Krystle Silva and her companion, Ray Gomez of Lowell, and Devon Gallant of Lowell; her great grandchildren, Lennix Gomez and Grayson Gomez; as well as her nieces, Lizete Frobese and her husband, Eric of Nashua, NH, Melissa Balbuena and her husband, Alex of Lowell, and her nephew, Aden Frobese of Nashua, NH.
She was also the sister of the beloved Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Tavares whom she missed dearly every day since since her death.
WHILE FOLLOWING SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES AND WEARING A MASK, ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND HER CALLING HOURS FROM ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2021 FROM 3 - 7 P.M. AT THE MCDONOUGH FUNERAL HOME, 14 HIGHLAND STREET, LOWELL, MA 978-458-6816. DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS HER FUNERAL MASS AT ST. ANTHONY CHURCH AND BURIAL AT WESTLAWN CEMETERY WILL BE HELD PRIVATELY. DONATIONS IN HER NAME TO ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL, P.O. BOX 50, MEMPHIS TN 3801-9929. PLEASE VISIT WWW.MCDONOUGHFUNERALHOME.COM TO SEND THE FAMILY A MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE.