Hortencia "Ester Piva" Amaral. 101, of Tiverton, wife of the late Manuel "Donald" Amaral, died peacefully at home in her sleep on Sunday, October 22, 2017.
Tiverton's oldest resident, born in Fall River and the daughter of the late Jose P. Rebeiro and Maria Piva Mello Rebeiro, she had been a resident of Tiverton for 68 years.
Ester left school in the 8th grade at age 14, which was common at the time, to work at numerous jobs during her lifetime. She retired in 1979 as Floor Lady of the Center Garment Manufacturing Company in Fall River. Ambitious and energetic, Ester was rarely unemployed, including during the depths of the Great Depression of the 1930's. As a result, she had many jobs during her long career, including the following: Bourne Mill in Tiverton, Raytheon in Dighton, Mass., United Rayon, Maplewood Yarns Mills, Firestone Rubber and Latex Company, Lynne Sportswear, Gamma Leather and Frito-Lay Manufacturing all of Fall River.
Mrs Amaral is survived by her son Paul Amaral and his wife Diana Janna Amaral of Tiverton and Godchild John Mattos and wife Elaine of Bridgewater, Mass. Ester also leaves her two beloved grandchildren Carly and Logan Sanna of Tiverton, as well as many nieces and nephews, in addition to her extended family at the Tiverton Senior Center.
She was predeceased by brothers John P. Ribeira, Joseph P. Rebeiro, Antone Ribeira and sister Mary Faria.
Visitation Friday from 4 to 8PM. Her Funeral will be held on Saturday at 9am from the Pocasset Memorial Funeral Home 462 Main Rd, Tiverton, RI with a 10am Mass at Holy Ghost Church. Burial at Pocasset Hill. www.almeida-pocasset.com. ; In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Jude Research Hospital.