Maria M. (Goncalves) Silva

Maria M. (Goncalves) Silva, age 83 of Taunton, passed away on May 17, 2026 at Boston Medical Center with her loving family by her side.

She was the wife of the late Joao Silva.

Born in Faial, Azores, she was the daughter of the late Antonio and Angelina (Rocha) Goncalves.

After immigrating from the Azores in 1972 with her family, Maria worked for several textile companies in the Taunton area before retiring from Rennie’s Curtain Factory. Caring for her family—especially her grandchildren—was her greatest joy. Over the years she also developed a deep passion for fishing, and aside from her loved ones, nothing delighted her more than the tug of a scup at the end of her line. Fishing along the shores of Tiverton and Portsmouth with family and friends became her peaceful escape from life’s stresses, especially after losing her husband at a young age. Many phone calls to her were met with her cheerful response, “I’m fish,” a phrase that surprised no one who knew her well. 

When she wasn’t fishing or cooking for her family, Maria devoted her time to her local churches, especially during Espirito Santo, when she helped prepare soupas to feed the congregation. Although she had made a new life in a new country, she remained deeply committed to her Portuguese traditions and took pride in passing them on to her children and grandchildren.

In her later years, when fishing was no longer possible, she found joy in visiting friends, reminiscing about her family and the old days, and spending many afternoons playing dominoes with her dear friends Helia and Manny.

She is survived by her children; Roberto Silva and loving girlfriend Kerri Andrade, Joseph Silva and wife Danielle, Idilia Jones and husband Christopher, grandchildren; Ryan Jones and wife Jessica, Jordan Silva, Junah Silva, brother Carlos Gonsalves, sister in-law Maria Avila and several nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Antonio Goncalves, and sister-in-law to the late Idilia Gonsalves and Maria Goncalves.

Maria’s funeral will be held on Friday, May 22, 2026 at 8:30am from the Silva Funeral Home 80 Broadway (at Saint Mary’s Square) Taunton, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am in Saint Anthony Church, Taunton.

Interment will follow in Saint Joseph Cemetery.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, May 21, 2026 from 5 to 8pm in the Silva Funeral Home. Additional parking with handicap access is located on the North side of the funeral home.

For expressions of sympathy, to sign an online guestbook, to plant a tree in her memory or to light a memorial candle, visit www.silvafuneralhome.com