Obituary of Angela Cabral

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Angela Cabral, a woman of faith and family, passed away at home surrounded by her large family on Saturday, October 5, 2024. She was 96 years old. Angela was born in Povoação, São Miguel, Portugal, where she was raised and educated and met the love of her life, Angelo, when they were teenagers. They married after Angelo served his country in the Armed Forces of Portugal. For many years, Angela and Angelo owned a grocery store and managed a Milk-Processing Center in São Miguel. The business was very successful, and their store was the gathering spot for all the neighbors.

Angela and Angelo were devout Catholics and their faith was a very important part of their lives. At the time they lived in their village, not many people had cars, so the only way to get to attend mass was to walk to the church in town. Thinking especially of the town’s elderly population, Angela and Angelo spearheaded the fundraising and building of the village church, named for Our Lady of Fátima. Angela believed in the power of prayer and faithfully said the Rosary daily. 

In 1968, Angela and Angelo made the decision to come to the United States so that their eight children could benefit from better health care, education, and opportunities. Angelo went first to the United States, leaving Angela with their 8 children for two years while he found a job and a place to live. They moved to Somerville, but eventually settled in Woburn in 1984. In the United States, she found a position as an assembler at Hewlett Packard, where she worked until her retirement.

Angela was the matriarch of her large family, who all adored her. Nothing made her happier than being surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren; she came alive and loved all the excitement and commotion of her large family. She hosted Sunday afternoon dinners, holiday celebrations with family and friends (sometimes upwards of 40 to 50 people), and her pool and backyard were the gathering spots for many barbecues. It was there that many of her children and grandchildren learned to swim. Angelo tended to his garden and Angela took care of the flower beds and ran the kitchen.  She was an incredible cook, using many of the recipes that she had learned from her mother in the Azores; her arroz doce (sweet rice pudding) was a particular family favorite.

When they moved to the United States, Angela and Angelo continued their strong devotion to the Catholic faith. They were active parishioners at St. Anthony’s Church in Cambridge. After their retirement, they attended daily mass at St. Barbara’s in Woburn. When her health prevented her from getting to mass, Angela watched the Catholic TV Network for a daily mass, rosary hours, and other Catholic programming.  If she wasn’t watching Catholic TV, she had on the Portuguese Network Channel or CNN. 

All of her family gravitated to her. She was a source of guidance and wisdom, and the glue that kept her family close. After Angelo died in 2020, family rallied to support Angela and took wonderful care of her in her home of 40 years. Angela will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and never forgotten by all her family and friends.  Her legacy is her 8 children, 17 grandchildren, and 17 great grandchildren and their spouses, all of whom share a little piece of Angela.

Angela was the beloved wife of 73 years of Angelo Cabral. She was the loving mother of José Manuel Cabral & his wife Maria of VA formerly of Billerica, Aida Bairos & her husband José of Billerica, Angélica Teixeira & her husband Joseph of FL, Henrique Cabral & his wife Maria of Woburn, Luis Cabral & his wife Patricia of Woburn, Goreti Cabral of Woburn and the late Joaquim Cabral & his wife Guida of Woburn, and the late Albertina Brown of Somerville. She was the sister of José de Sousa of Toronto Canada & his late wife Otilia, Maria Carreiro & her husband José of São Miguel, Azores, Clotilde Ferreira of Lisbon Portugal, & her late husband Hélio, the late Cecilia Medeiros & her late husband Manuel, of England, and the late Natividade Pacheco & her late husband José of Canada. Angela was also survived by 17 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. 

The wake will be private. All are welcome to the funeral mass on Thursday, October 10, 2024 at 11:30 AM at St Barbara’s Church, Cambridge Street, in Woburn, followed by interment at Woodbrook Cemetery in Woburn. The mass will be livestreamed

In lieu of flowers memorials in Angela’s name may be made to the CatholicTV Network, www.catholictv.org, P.O. Box 9196, Watertown, MA 02471. 

Arrangements by the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, Burlington, www.sullivanfuneralhome.net