Obituary of Anna Souza

Anna Theresa Souza, a mother and business owner, passed away after a long illness at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center on Wednesday night, January 25, 2012. She was 86 years old. Anna was born in Seekonk, the daughter of Portuguese immigrants, the late Manuel and Mary Amaral. She grew up and was educated in East Providence, Rhode Island. Her family had a great circle of friends within the Portuguese community including her later to be husband’s family. So she met her husband as a child growing up and kept in contact during his service in the Marines during WW II. After the war, they dated and were married in June of 1947. Her husband, a talented concrete form carpenter, built their home in Burlington in 1955. They started their own company John E. Souza, Inc. dba Schofield Concrete Forms of Burlington. John did the construction work and Anna managed the office out of their home while raising their 4 children. In 1971, John tragically passed; leaving her with the challenge of raising her children ages 7 to 20 as well as continuing the family’s livelihood. With her fortitude, her children’s support, and help from long time employees and friends, she managed to keep her family working together and endure. Anna was a wonderful model to her family, of how to be strong, resilient, and selfless. She was their mother, manager, promoter, and biggest supporter. She was a talented cook. Her hobbies included shopping, gardening, and flower arranging. She was also blessed to see her grandchildren grow up and see the births of 3 great grandchildren. Anna is survived by her children and their spouses; Jean Roberson & her husband Daniel of Tewksbury, John & his fiancée Maureen Ballard of Andover, Edward & his wife Debra of Billerica, and James & his wife Caroline of Wakefield. She was the sister of Irene Butera of Seekonk. She was the proud and loving grandmother of Daniel Roberson of Lowell, Kerry Callanan of Lowell, Erica Miller, Shannon and Jaclyn Souza all of Billerica and great grandmother of Taylor Purington, Grace Miller, and Noah Callanan. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn Street, Burlington, (exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Monday, January 30 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Sunday from 3-6 p.m. Interment in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Anna’s name may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 10 Speen Street, Second Floor, Framingham, MA 01701 or www.diabetes.org.