NEW BEDFORD — Elsie (Amado) Gomes, 89, formerly of Fairhaven, died Monday, September 1, 2008, at the Savoy Nursing Home in New Bedford. She was the wife of the late James Gomes.

Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Frank and Anna (Suarzo) Amado, she lived in Fairhaven for over 60 years before entering the nursing home. She was a communicant of St. Joseph's Church in Fairhaven.

Mrs. Gomes had worked for the Decas Cranberry Co., in Rochester for several years and also as a home health aide. She enjoyed camping, and raised African Violets.

Elsie was famous for playing practical jokes, photography and making family photo albums.

She is survived by two sons, John Gomes and Albert Gomes and his wife, Linda, all of New Bedford; a daughter, Ida (Gomes) Almeida and her husband, David of New Bedford; 12 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; two great, great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Gomes was the mother of the late Rudolph Gomes and Marianne Galvao and sister of the late Frank Amado, Jr., Albert Amado, Eva Silva, Alice Martin and Ida Teixeira.

A Memorial Mass will be held Tuesday, September 9th at 9:00 AM in St. Joseph's Church, Fairhaven, followed by interment of cremains at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Beacon Hospice, 45 N. Main St., Fall River, MA 02720.

Arrangements are by the Fairhaven Funeral Home, 117 Main Street, Fairhaven. For LIGHT A CANDLE OR MEMORIAL REGISTER go to www.hathawayfunerals.com.

Published in the Standard-Times on 9/4/2008

Note:  Elsie (Amado) Gomes was the daughter of Frank Amado of Cape Verde and Anna Suarzo of Rhode Island.