Naomi S. (Viera) Barboza, 88, of Lakeville passed away Monday, December 12, 2022 after a lengthy battle with COPD.
She was born and raised in Acushnet, the daughter of the late Manuel and Octavia (Perry) Viera, she later raised her family in Lakeville. She was a graduate of Fairhaven High School and UMass Dartmouth.
During her long life, Naomi reinvented herself many times. Beautiful and dedicated daughter, loving working mother, restaurant owner, then in the mid 1970s she returned to college and received her Bachelor’s Degree.
She loved to help and educate people. Her degree led her to teach at Taunton High School, work for the Internal Revenue-Boston, then to the Massachusetts Division of Employment and Training (DET) until her retirement. There she taught bilingual classes for clients (“her people”). She educated them in job search skills, resume writing, and provided direction for retraining opportunities.
This final career fit perfectly. Her exceptional skill at matching people to the opportunity that fit them best lead to recognition for her placement and retention success. During her 20 years with the DET she commuted by car, bus and subway to get to her distant offices in Malden, Boston and Quincy. She later worked in the local offices in Taunton and New Bedford.
She enjoyed singing and with family and friends she caroled throughout the holidays for decades. She studied voice under Mme. Cobert, leading to performing in the Merry Widow and La Boheme. She was a member of the United Portuguese Women’s Club.
She was the wife of the late Charles E. Barboza. Naomi is survived by her children, Chuck Dade, Linda O’Brien, Brian Barboza, Marlene Haley and Lori Longworth; her sister, Dorothy Ventura; ten grandchildren, Elizabeth Tubville, Breana Barboza, Meagan Barboza, Brenden Barboza, Kevin O’Brien, Tyler Driscoll, Julia Driscoll, Andrew Haley, Alana Haley, and Alexa Napolitano; three great-grandchildren, Cole Tubville, Emma Tubville, and Stacia O’Brien; and two nephews.
She was predeceased by her infant son, David Barboza.
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, December 19th at 11 AM at St. Mary’s Church, 440 Main Street, Fairhaven. Burial will follow in Acushnet Cemetery, 91 Main Street, Acushnet. Visitation will be held on Monday from 9-10:30 AM at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Mattapoisett. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.