Maria Pavao

Maria Hilda (Araujo) Pavão of Attleboro, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 2, 2022 at 94 years of age. Beloved wife of the late Antonio E. Pavão. Daughter of the late Maria Ascenção Elena (Melo) and Antonio Jose Araujo. Loving mother of Laurinda Lemieux and her husband Philip of Rehoboth and Maria Elzera Ponte and her late husband Dennis of East Greenwich, RI. Cherished grandmother of 8 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Sister of the late Maria Jose Dos Santos, Manuel José Araujo, and Henrique Araujo. Maria Hilda also leaves behind many nieces and nephews.

Maria Hilda was born in São Miguel, Azores and came to the United States with her family in 1953. She worked as a homemaker and at Swanks Jewelry for many years. Maria Hilda cared a great deal about others and spent many years of her life volunteering. She was a Eucharist Minister for Holy Ghost Church and brought Holy Communion to the homebound. She volunteered at La Salette Shrine, Sturdy Memorial Hospital and Life Care Center of Attleboro. She started the Portuguese Pilgrimage with Father Pereira at La Salette and received the Marian Medal Award from the Fall River Diocese for her dedicated service to Holy Ghost parish.

In her spare time, Maria Hilda also loved spending time with her family, sewing, knitting, and doing puzzles. Many of her family members received gifts of blankets and sweaters that were lovingly knitted by Maria Hilda. She also enjoyed traveling, spending time by the ocean, and cooking for family and friends.

The Pavão family would like to thank the loving staff of Life Care Center of West Bridgewater for the wonderful care they provided.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend visitation on Monday, May 9, 2022 from 8-9:30 AM at Duffy-Poule Funeral Home, 20 Peck Street, Attleboro. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10 AM at Holy Ghost Church, 71 Linden Street, Attleboro. Burial will follow at St. John’s Cemetery, 165 West Street, Attleboro.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Maria Hilda’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 245 Waterman Street, #306, Providence, RI 02906 or www.Alz.org.