Idalina S. Francisco

Idalina S. (Santos) Francisco, age 95, passed away peacefully at her home in Lawrence, MA surrounded by her family on Sunday, July 28, 2019.

She was born on January 22, 1924 in the Azores on the island of Graciosa, Portugal to the late Manuel Dos Santos Sodre and Silvina (Silva) Sodre. On November 15, 1941, she married Jose Francisco in Portugal before immigrating to the United States with her family in 1966 and settled in Lawrence.

Idalina became a homemaker tending to her family’s needs first and foremost. She was dedicated to her family and her loved ones. She also enjoyed playing cards, crocheting, and mostly spending as much time possible with her loved ones, especially with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Idalina’s special interests and hobbies included cooking Sunday dinners, spoiling her loved ones, and hosting large family gatherings. Her greatest gift she gave to all was her incredible faith in God and her unconditional love for her family. She was a devoted and active parishioner at Sts. Peters and Paul Parish and Corpus Christi Parish at Holy Rosary Church in Lawrence, a member of the Holy Ghost Fraternity, and was also an honorary member of the Portuguese American Club in Lawrence.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Jose Francisco; her children, Valdemiro Francisco, Liberato Francisco, and Ana Maria Dos Santos Francisco; and her siblings, Manuel Santos, Jose, Joaó, and Marcus Sodre; son-in-law, Manuel Madruga; great-granddaughter, Tania M. Oliveira; and sisters-in-law, Leliana Santos and June Sodre.

Idalina is survived by her devoted children, Silvina Madruga, Algadiela DeMelo and her husband, Helio, Maria Julieta Faria and her husband, Joaquim, Gabriela Calouro, M. Fatima Andrade and her husband, Antonio, Jose Francisco and his wife, Colleen, and Manuel Francisco and his wife, Constance; daughter-in-law, Elza Francisco; brother, Francisco Sodre and his wife, Brenda; sister-in-law, Nazare Sodre; She also leaves behind twenty-one grandchildren, forty great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren. In addition, Idalina will be missed greatly by her surviving nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend visiting hours on Tuesday, July 30, 2019 from 4:00-8:00 PM at Cataudella Funeral Home, 126 Pleasant Valley Street in Methuen. A funeral mass will be held Wednesday, July 31, 2019 at 10:00 AM at Corpus Christi Parish at Holy Rosary Church, 35 Essex Street in Lawrence. Burial will follow at St. Mary Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Lawrence.