Laurentina (Vieira) Craven

TAUNTON - Laurentina (Vieira) Craven, passed away at her Taunton home on May 5, 2010.
She was 97.
Born in Taunton, she was the daughter of the late John and Barbara (da Conceicao) Vieira.
Raised and educated in Taunton, she married her late husband, Manuel Craven in 1934.
Together, they ran a filling station and produce stand at the site of their Winthrop St. home, which they purchased in 1936, and founded the Craven Oil Company.
Later, they built and operated the Craven Motel.
After the death of her husband in 1956, Mrs. Craven worked part time for Craven Catering, while continuing to operate the Craven Motel for over fifty years.
A communicant of St. Anthony Church and member of the Holy Rosary Sodality, Mrs. Craven was the recipient of the Marian Medal, and member of the Taunton Garden Club and the Westville Women's Community Club.
She enjoyed traveling and gardening, although her greatest source of enjoyment was spending time with her family and friends.
Survivors include a stepson, Dennis A. "Dan" Craven and his wife Peggy of Las Vegas, NV; a stepdaughter, Rosaline Davis of Taunton; 19 grandchildren; 28 great grandchildren; 24 great great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She was also stepmother of the late Hilda Butts, Elsie Ducharme, and Alfred Craven; and the sister of the late Belmira, Herman, John and Edward Vieira, Wilhelmina DeCosta, Hilda Manter, Alice Harnish, and Irene Almeida.
Her funeral will be held from the Silva Funeral Home, 80 Broadway on Saturday May 8th at 8 a.m. followed by a funeral mass at St. Anthony Church at 9 a.m.
Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend.
Calling Hours will be held at the funeral home on Friday, May 7th from 5 to 8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 220 N. Main St., Natick, MA 01760-1100.
www.silvafuneralhome.com.