Diamantina L. DaSilva
‘Loving Mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother’
LOWELL Diamantina L. (Santos) DaSilva, 86, of Lowell, passed away after a long illness at her home on Friday, March 23, 2018 with her loving family by her side. She was the widow of the late Leonel M. DaSilva who passed away in 1993 after forty years of marriage.
She was born on May 29, 1931 in Graciosa, Azores, Portugal and was a daughter of the late Joao Dos Santos and the late Isolina (Bettencourt) Dos Santos. She was raised in Graciosa, where she also attended the area schools. On January 19, 1968, she came to the United States with her family, settling in Lowell’s Back Central Street Neighborhood.
Diamantina was a communicant of St. Anthony’s Church and was a member of the Holy Ghost Society and she enjoyed spending time at the Portuguese American Senior Center. She took great pride in her appearance, never missing a hair appointment and always looking her best. She enjoyed knitting and crocheting. Although she had many passions throughout her life, spending time with her family brought her the most happiness. She enjoyed attending feasts as well as family gatherings, which she loved to cook for. Her rice pudding will be missed by many.
Her survivors include her children, Carmen Pereira and her husband, Januareo of Tewksbury, Manuel Silva and his wife, Nancy Amirault of Ayer, Antonio DaSilva and his wife, Tina of Lowell, and Michael Silva and his wife, Rosanna of Weddington, NC. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, Linda Freitas, with whom she had a special relationship with, and her husband Michael of Lowell, David Pereira and his wife, Karla of Dracut, Christopher Pereira and his fiancé, Tayajana Rosado of Lowell, Stephanie Gronberg and her husband, Kurt of Needham, Stephen Silva and his partner Richard Delgado Rojas of Brooklyn, NY Katlyn Regan of Dracut, Angela Mienkowski of Lowell and Nicolette and Isabelle Silva of Weddington, NC; and her step-grandchildren, Richard Killion and his wife, Wendy, Joseph Killion and his wife, Jacqueline Foley, and Michael Field and his wife, Jessica.
She is also survived by eight great grandchildren, Riley and Rachel Freitas, Cameron, Davin and Justin Pereira, Christopher Jr, Cayleahni Pereira, and Izabella Mienkowski, and her step great grandchildren, Patricia Cerezo, Jaiden Killion, Tyana Marie Killion, Sophia Killion, Cosmo Field, Dominic Field, and Anthony Field.
She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins, and her sister in law and close friend, Maria Manuela Silva of Peabody. After her brother, David Bettencourt of Graciosa passed away years ago, she was the last of her family.
ON MONDAY, MARCH 26, YOU ARE INVITED TO HER CALLING HOURS FROM 4 UNTIL 8 P.M. AT THE MCDONOUGH FUNERAL HOME, 14 HIGHLAND ST., LOWELL.
ON TUESDAY, HER FUNERAL MASS WILL BE OFFERED AT ST. ANTHONY CHURCH, 893 CENTRAL STREET, LOWELL, AT 11 A.M.. BURIAL IN ST. JOSEPH CEMETERY.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, DONATIONS IN HER MEMORY MAY BE MADE TO: CIRCLE HOME, 847 ROGERS STREET #201, LOWELL, MA 01852.
