Deolinda (Braga) Amaral

 Deolinda B. Amaral

March 14, 1934 - July 19, 2025

Deolinda Braga Amaral, 91, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on July 19, 2025.

Deolinda was born in Santa Maria, Azores and emigrated with her beloved husband and six children to Rhode Island in 1973. Daughter of the late Jose de Sousa Braga and Maria Jose Resendes Almada of Santa Maria, Azores. She was predeceased by her dear husband of 64 years, Jose B. Amaral.

Deolinda had an infectious smile and a great sense of humor. She was known for her humorous and often impromptu poetry at family gatherings. She also enjoyed reading, sewing, crocheting and baking. Her “cavacas” were always a special treat at family events. She was a loving and caring person, deeply devoted to her family and her faith. She was a communicant at Our Lady of the Rosary Church.

Deolinda was a member of the Holy Ghost Brotherhood Mariense organization, where she enjoyed spending time with relatives and friends in prayer and volunteering her services for the traditional dinners and annual Holy Ghost feasts. She was the organization’s first “Imperatriz” in 1986 and again in 2005. She will be profoundly missed by all whose lives she touched.

She is survived by her loving children; Joe (Berta) Amaral of Johnston, RI, John (Ana) Amaral of Fort Myers, FL, M. Celeste Amaral (Donald Bigelow) of Eaton, NY, Antonio (Juvenalia) Amaral, Matilde Amaral, and Margarida (Mark) Saunders, all of East Providence, RI. She was Grandmother to Melissa, David, Amy, Bryan, Michelle, Patrick, Daniel, Rebecca and the late Peter Saunders. She was Great-Grandmother to Skyler, Maya, Alex, Lillian, Rose, Brady, Nora and Quinn.

She is survived by her siblings; Helena de Freitas Braga of São Paulo, Brazil, Joao Freitas Braga of East Providence, RI, Filomena de Freitas Braga of New Bedford, MA, Agostinho de Freitas Braga of São Miguel, Azores, and Celeste Freitas of Taunton, MA. She was predeceased by her siblings; Jose de Sousa of Santa Maria, Azores, Maria Resendes Braga of Rome, Italy, Antonio Almada Sousa of Taunton, MA, and Manuel Almada Braga of East Providence, RI. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

The family expresses their sincerest appreciation to Hope Health Hospice and Staff Solutions for their professional services and compassionate care.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 10:00am in Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 21 Traverse Street, Providence, RI.  Burial will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 550 Wampanoag Trail, East Providence, RI. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Calling hours are on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, from 4:00pm-7:00pm at Rebello Funeral Home, 901 Broadway, East Providence, RI.   

In lieu of flowers, donations in Deolinda’s memory may be made to Our Lady of the Rosary Food Pantry, 463 Benefit Street, Providence, RI, 02903.

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