Mrs. Lorraine M. (Martins) Sousa

Lorraine (Martins) Sousa, 75, of 5 Debra Avenue, Bristol passed away peacefully into God’s care on Friday, September 14, 2018 after a valiant battle with cancer. She joins her beloved husband, Silvestre Borges Sousa in heaven, where they will welcome her with open arms. Born in Providence, Lorraine was the only child of the late John and Merces "Macie" (Andrade) Martins. She is survived by her greatest accomplishment, her 6 children: Elizabeth Sousa-Tramonti and her husband, Robert of Cumberland, RI; Stephen Sousa and his wife Christine of North Providence, RI; Michael Sousa and his wife Barbara of Bristol, RI; Christopher Sousa and wife Kristine of Apex, NC; Bernadette Sousa and her fiance Aaron Erlandson of Sherborn, MA; and Matthew Sousa and his wife, Elizabeth of Beacon Falls, CT. She was the loving grandmother of Joshua, Gabriella, Ava, Katherine, Connor, Brayden, Logan, Zachary and Kaden who will miss their Vovo dearly. Above everything else, she adored her grandchildren.
A lifelong resident of Bristol, Lorraine graduated from Colt High School and Johnson & Wales University with an Associate Degree in Accounting. She utilized her love of numbers, working for various companies in Rhode Island as an Accounting Clerk/Bookkeeper, inclusive of Well Made Dress, her last employer before she left to focus on her two greatest passions, her family and her faith. Her greatest joys were her family, who she always lovingly cared for. She cherished sharing and making memories through hosting family Sunday and Holiday dinners, visiting and spending time with relatives and friends, attending her children’s and grandchildren’s scholastic/artistic/sporting events, or just playing cards or games with her grandchildren.
Along with her husband, Silvestre, Lorraine was very active in her church and was steadfast in her faith. She was a faithful communicant of St. Elizabeth’s Church and very active in various Prayer/Charismatic groups over the years, participating in many pilgrimages. She was a staple in the church and was very devoted to the Holy Rosary, and always had her rosary beads with her, including during surgeries. Lorraine was the Treasurer of St. Vincent DePaul and the Friends of St. Elizabeth’s where she spent endless hours assisting and advocating for those in the community that was less fortunate. Annually at Thanksgiving she coordinated the food basket drive and worked endlessly to provide spiritual and financial assistance to those in need. Lorraine’s generosity and compassion, will be sorely missed.
Friends and Family are welcomed to celebrate her life at the Mass of Christian Burial at St. Elizabeth’s Church, 577 Wood Street, Bristol, RI at 11 am on Thursday, September 20, 2018. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Bristol. Visiting hours are respectfully omitted. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online at www.stjude.org/memorials or the Friends of Tenwek (building hospitals and clinics in Ghana) 6277-600 Carolina Common, Indian Land, SC 29707 or online at www.friendsoftenwek.org/donate
For online condolences, shared memories, information and directions go to www.sansonefuneralhome.com

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