Laura Sousa

Laura C. Sousa, 91, of Marlborough, MA, and formerly of Burlington, MA, passed away December 19, 2021. Laura was born on January 17, 1930 in São Miguel, Azores, Portugal. She was the daughter of the late John and Deolinda Roque and the beloved wife of the late John Sousa; loving mother of Aura Gauthier and her husband, Robert of Marlborough, MA, George Sousa and his wife Peggy of Reading, MA, and John Sousa and his wife Diane, of Reading, MA; cherished grandmother of Robert Gauthier and his partner Sara and her son Nicholas, Aimée Goulding and her husband Neil, Jacqueline Mason and her husband Peter, Matthew Sousa and his wife Cheryl, Christopher Sousa and his wife Kathryn, Benjamin Sousa and his wife Alyssa, Andrew Sousa and his fiancé Jessica and her son Terrell, Ashley Gavin and her husband James, and Alison Sousa and her fiancé Abi; adored great-grandmother of Joshua and Renee Gauthier, Madelyn and Aidan Goulding, Lucie and Stella Mason, Elenore and Coraline Sousa, Roque and Zeke Sousa; and Connor and Hailey Gavin; devoted Sister of Constantino Roque and his wife Eduarda, and Adelina Pacheco and her husband Manuel. In addition to her parents, Laura was predeceased by a brother, Deodato Roque, whose wife Angela survives.

Laura grew up in the town of São Roque where she met her future husband, John Sousa. He courted her with visits outside her window, and they were married on a Friday night, June 30, 1949. On October 16, 1957, they immigrated to the United States with their two children Aura (7), George (3) and pregnant with their third, John. They lived with Laura’s parents and brothers in an apartment first in Cambridge and then Somerville. Laura worked in a factory as a seamstress, raised her children, managed her household, cooked for both her immediate and extended family, learned to speak English, navigated a new country and culture, and obtained her citizenship. She lived the American Dream, eventually owning her own home, a beach cottage, and a rental property.

Nothing mattered more to Laura than her family, whom she loved deeply. She loved to cook and care for her family. She often visited with her children for extended stays, helping them with housework and caring for their children. She stayed with her daughter, Aura, for weeks when she had her third child to help take care of the older two. She attended her grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s dance recitals, gymnastic shows, music shows, Boy Scout events, school, and sporting events.

Her rental property housed her sons and their families in their early years, giving them a step up in life. Later in life, she opened her home to grandson, Robert, for several years while he was in school and early in his career, helping care for his son, Joshua. She later opened her home for her granddaughter, Aimée, who lived with her for four years while going to school and saving for a home. Most recently, before her passing, she opened her home to her grandson, Benjamin, and his family. Her love, loyalty and generosity for her family held no bounds.

Her beach cottage had an open-door policy for all. Children, grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends – all were welcome all the time, no appointment needed - and she would cook a feast for whomever arrived. She hosted family gatherings and parties with joy and ease – cooking all day for those at the beach so they had a wonderful meal when they came back to the cottage. Her children, grandchildren, and, later, great-grandchildren enjoyed countless beach vacations at the cottage – no one more than her granddaughter, Ashley, who spent every summer with her at the cottage for 15 years.

Laura’s welcoming heart made her beloved by all, and everyone called her Avó. Her greatest joy in life was seeing her family, which continued to grow with each passing year, around her dining table prepared to enjoy an amazing meal that she made with love.

We were blessed to have her as our mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and she left the world a better place. Her love lives in all of us, and we are forever grateful.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, December 27 at St. Matthias Catholic Church, 409 Hemenway St, Marlborough at 11:00 am. Interment will follow at Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St, Cambridge.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations in Laura’s name be made to the charity of one’s choice