Rita De Cassia (Toste) DaSilva
LOWELL Rita De Cassia (Toste) DaSilva, 67, of Lowell, passed away after a lengthy illness, Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at Tufts Medical Center with her family by her side. She was the wife of Antonio S. DaSilva with whom she would of shared 26 years of marriage next month.
Rita was born on September 7, 1948 in Terceira, Azores, Portugal and was a daughter of the late Joao Borges Toste and the late Paulina Do Carmo (Martins) Toste. She grew up in Terceira, where she was educated, before living in mainland Portugal for 10 years, where she worked in an orphanage, before relocating to the United States 26 years ago.
Rita resided in Lowell and was a communicant of St. Anthony Church, where she took part in the Cursillo Movement. She was a member of the Holy Ghost Society and the Portuguese Senior Center, where she enjoyed spending time with her friends. Rita loved to pray, laugh and make jokes. Her favorite quote was "one day at a time". She enjoyed traveling and especially loved being near the ocean. Rita was a talented dressmaker and loved to sew and knit. She also enjoyed arts and crafts.
In addition to her husband, Antonio, she is survived by her four siblings, Joao Toste and his wife, Juvenalia of Terceira, Azores, Maria DeLurdes Nunes and her husband, Manuel of Terceira, Azores, Marciolinda Rocha and her husband, Manuel of Lowell, and Francisco Toste and his wife, Livramente of Terceira, Azores. She is also survived by 26 nieces and nephews including, Tanya Silva of Florida and Sylvia Rocha of Stoughton, MA; her sister-in-law, Rosa Ormonde of Lowell; brother in law, Nelson DaSilva of Nashua; and two more brothers in law in Brazil.
ON FRIDAY, JUNE 24, YOU ARE INVITED TO HER CALLING HOURS FROM 4 UNTIL 8 P.M. AT THE MCDONOUGH FUNERAL HOME, 14 HIGHLAND STREET, LOWELL 978-458-6816. ON SATURDAY, HER FUNERAL WILL BEGIN AT 9:30 A.M. AT THE FUNERAL HOME. HER FUNERAL MASS WILL BE OFFERED AT ST. ANTHONY CHURCH, 893 CENTRAL STREET, LOWELL AT 11:30 A.M.. A PROCESSION WILL FOLLOW FOR BURIAL AT ST. JOSEPH CEMETERY IN CHELMSFORD.
