Elsie P. (Ponte) Lareau

New Bedford – Elsie P. (Ponte) Lareau, died Monday, February 27, 2006 at home with her family by her side after a long Illness. She was the wife of the late Lucien Leo Lareau. Survivors include 2 daughters: Linda L. Silva of New Bedford and Janice M. Lareau of Lynn, MA., 3 grandchildren: Jason Silva, Jennifer Sousa and Jordan Silva and 5 great grandchildren: Alisha, Joshua, Nathan, Alexa and Christian, and 2 sisters: Hilda Dagenais of Harwich, MA. and Sylvia Beeson of San Diego, CA. She was the sister of the late Manuel Ponte, Mary Eleniefsky, Georgianna Cambra, Olivia Gorman, Theresa Kvindus, Clotilda Blackmore, Isabel Casey, Agnes Ponte.

Mrs. Lareau was born in New Bedford, and lived in this area all of her life. She was the daughter of the late Maria (Andrade) Pacheco and Antonio Ponte. Mrs. Lareau was a former member of St. John Seniors. She was devoted to her family and enjoyed spending time with her grand and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed cooking, gardening and her pets. She was a proficient seamstress, who at one time, was employed in the sewing room at St. Luke's Hospital. She also worked for several bridal shops. Mrs. Lareau was the costume maker for St. James Church’s' plays and made the altar linens for the church.

Her funeral will be Friday, March 3, 2006, from the Perry Funeral Home, 111 Dartmouth St. at 9 A.M. with a Funeral Mass at 10 A.M. at Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Parish, on County St., New Bedford, MA. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery on Route 6. Visiting hours will be Thursday, March 2, 2006 from 6 - 8 P.M.