Norma M. (Arruda) Sylvia, 85, of Acushnet, passed away on Thursday, September 1, 2022, at St. Luke's Hospital.
Norma was born in New Bedford, MA to Anthony and Maria Celeste Arruda. She was a graduate of New Bedford High School and lived in Acushnet for the last 60 years. She was a communicant of Our Lady of Fatima Church.
She was a licensed insurance broker and Director of a statewide insurance agency. During her career, she worked for the Mass Office of Business Development and the New Bedford Housing Authority. In addition, she was a proud staffer for District Attorney Paul Walsh. She was a dynamic businesswoman, having owned two local businesses, the last being 22 Elm Street Tavern. She enjoyed gardening, boating, and spending time with her family and friends. Of all of her accomplishments, she was most proud of being a grandmother and great-grandmother.
Survivors include her children Barry (Stephanie) Sylvia, and Pamela Callanan (Philip Pantano), her brothers Anthony (Marcelle) Arruda, and John (Kathy) Arruda, sister Maria (Kenneth) Sylvia, sister-in-law Gloria Arruda, grandchildren Meaghan (Andrew) Olejarz, Alyssa (Brian) Irvine, Matthew Sylvia, Christopher Sylvia, Lenny (Samantha) Simmons, great-grandchildren Lila and Teddy Olejarz, Wyatt Irvine, and Ronin, Marshall, and Laine Simmons, many nieces and nephews, and her dear friends Anne Carney, Norma Thomas, and Carolyn Souza.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers William, Gerald, and Edward Arruda, and her loving partner Paul Rezendes.
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday September 16th at 10 AM at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish, 343 Tarkiln Hill Road, New Bedford. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Fairhaven. Visiting hours will be on Thursday September 15th from 4-7 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or the Prince Henry Society, P.O. Box 6726, New Bedford, MA 02742. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.