Obituary: Bemvinda M. Pires

Bemvinda M. “Be” (Fernandes) Pires, 94, of Norton and Deerfield Beach, Fla., passed away Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 at Daggett-Crandall-Newcomb Home in Norton.

She was the wife of the late Anthony T. Pires, Jr., to whom she was married for 58 years at the time of his death Sept. 9, 2001.

Born in Madeira Island, Portugal Oct. 7, 1918, she was daughter of the late Jose and Rosa (Teixeira) Fernandes. At the age of 5 ½, she moved to Norton with her family, where she grew up and was a 1937 graduate of Norton High School.

Mrs. Pires was a homemaker to her family and had also helped with the operations of her families business, the former Fernandes Super Markets.

“Be” was a longtime communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Norton and had attended St. Ambrose Church in Deerfield Beach. She was an energetic gardener and knitter, and treasured the times spent with family and friends.

She is survived by her children Virginia Pires of Providence, R.I., Richard Pires, Sr. and his wife Linda of Palm City, Fla. and Anthony Pires and his wife Wendy of Carlisle, Penn.; her siblings Mary Gabiola of Meridian, Idaho and Evangeline Fonseca of Norton; her grandchildren Richard Pires Jr., Matthew Sutte, Carissa Spatcher, Jennifer Pires, Caroline Pires, Thomas Pires and Christopher Pires; her great-grandchildren Anna Pires, Lily Pires, Kellan Sutte and Lachlan Sutte; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her daughter Rosemary Sutte who is survived by her husband Robert Sutte of Fla.; her siblings Maria Fernandes and Joseph Fernandes

Her Funeral Mass, to which relatives and friends are invited to attend, will be celebrated Monday, Oct. 22 at 11 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church, 1 Power St., Norton. Burial will follow in the Norton Center Cemetery in Norton.

Visitation will be held prior to the Funeral Mass on Monday morning beginning at 9 a.m. at Norton Memorial Funeral Home, 19 Clapp St., Norton.

For more information visit www.nortonmemorial.com.