Esmeralda (Garcia Da Ponte) Tavares

Esmeralda (Garcia Da Ponte) Tavares, 80, of Fall River, wife of Manuel F. Tavares, passed away Tuesday, February 26, 2019.

Born in Lomba da Maia, São Miguel, Acores, she was a bilingual teacher for many years. She enjoyed traveling, gardening and scrapbooking. Esmeralda was also a founder and longtime member of Ateneu Luso Americano in Fall River.

Besides her husband of 50 years, she leaves four children, Nancy Tavares of Westport, Robert Tavares and his wife Renae of TN, Richard Tavares and his wife Sonia of Lakeville and George Tavares and his wife Karen of Somerset; eight grandchildren, Brendon, Gianna, Sydney, Addison, Greyson, Emerson, Jared and Justin; four siblings, Honorina Arruda of Fall River, Celestina DeSilva of Bermuda, Odilia Botelho of Fall River and Victor Ambrosio of Canada and many nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Ascensão Medeiros, Maria Jose Amaral, Joventina Sousa, Irene Pimental and Jeremias Garcia and the daughter of the late Manuel Ambrosio Garcia and Celestina Da Ponte Sa.

Her funeral will be held Friday at 9:45 A.M. from the Auclair Funeral Home, 690 So. Main St., with a Funeral Mass at St. Anthony of Padua at 11:00 A.M. Entombment, Notre Dame Cemetery.

A visitation will be held Thursday from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Beacon Hospice, 182 No. Main St., Fall River , MA 02720 or Catholic Memorial Home, 2446 Highland Ave, Fall River, MA 02720. Online guest book at AuclairFuneralHome.com.