Maria A. Silveira

Maria Augusta Silveira, age 79, passed away early Sunday morning on April 21, 2019 while at home in Sandown, NH with her family by her side.  She was born on October 20, 1939 to the late Jose and Augusta Coucelos on the island of Faial in Azores, Portugal.  Maria Augusta was the oldest of four children.

Maria Augusta married the late Jose Amaral of Faial Azores, Portugal having eight children together, including five boys and three girls.  They chose to migrate to the United States in 1969 in order to provide their children with more opportunity and a better way of living.  Maria was a strong woman who worked tirelessly to raise eight children almost singlehandedly.  She took on many roles to make ends meet for her family, which included careers as a seamstress, housekeeper, and finally a housekeeping supervisor, until her retirement in 2002.  However, her most important role was that of a mother and matriarch of the family.  Maria had a selfless dedication to her children and her grandchildren, a passion for cooking and a true motivation for family gatherings and maintaining tight bonds with her loved ones.  Maria had an "old world" charm and view on life coming from a simpler time and place where everything was made from scratch and all survived on bare necessities only.  She will be deeply missed, but will be cherished in all of our hearts for an eternity.

She is reunited with her predeceased children, daughter Maria Regina Daily, oldest son Luis Amaral, and two of her siblings; brother Jose Coucelos, and sister Natalia Almeida.  Those left to cherish her memory include sons Jose Amaral of Methuen, MA, Manuel Amaral of Charlotte, NC, Mario Amaral of Derry, NH, Elidio Amaral of Pelham, NH, daughters Maria Noemia Roman of Raymond, NH, Maria Goreti Garcia of Windham, NH, all of their respective spouses, 13 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild and brother Belmiro Coucelos of Woburn, MA.

Viewing will be Friday April 26th 9 to10:30 am at Saint Mary and Joseph Parish, 40 Main Street, Salem, NH with the funeral Mass immediately following.  Graveside services will be held at Gibson Cemetery, Old Bridge Road, Pelham, NH.

If you wish to send flowers, please send to:  Goundrey & Dewhirst Funeral Home, 42 Main St., Salem, NH. 

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