Adelaide Castro

Adelaide Castro1923-2015Indian Orchard- Adelaide Martins Castro, 92, passed away surrounded by her loving family on December 8, 2015.  Born in Oura, Portugal in 1923, she was the daughter of the late Joao and Joaquina Martins.  She attended school up until third grade in Portugal, and was forced to stay at home to help with the farming and care for her two younger sisters, Aurora and Filomena.  She was later employed at the Water Works in Vidago, and married her sweetheart, Osvaldo Castro.  Together with their children Maria Isabel and John, they emigrated to the US, hoping for better future for themselves and education for their children. Osvaldo and Adelaide celebrated over 50 years of marriage together. In the United States, Adelaide worked for a clothing company in the Ludlow Mills, and ended her working career at Unifirst Corporation in Springfield, MA in 1998.  Faith and Family were the cornerstones of Adelaide's life.  Together with her husband, she sponsored several family members in Portugal to also be able to emigrate to the US. Adelaide was always there for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She was like a second mother to her granddaughters since 1998.  Also in 1998, Adelaide became a US Citizen. She was an active communicant of St. Matthew's Church, St. Jude parish and finally Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church, all in Springfield.  She enjoyed cooking and gardening and working around the house.  She never bought a seed as she would grow all of her vegetables from dried seeds from the past year.  She also enjoyed making her own wine from the grapevines that can be seen growing in her meticulously maintained yard. She was rarely seen sitting down, as there was always something to do. She would pray every night for all of her family members and friends, alive or deceased.  She was a person who would always put others before herself, a selfless lady. She would often share vegetables from her garden and fruit from her trees with her many neighbors. Her two great grandchildren were the apples of her eyes.  She helped to raise them until they were old enough to attend school. Adelaide was predeceased by her son John Castro in 1977, Maria Isabel de Castro Bianchi in 1998, her husband Osvaldo Castro in 2005, and her sisters Aurora and Filomena Martins.  She is survived by her granddaughters, Heather Goncalves and her husband Tony; and Christie Chisholm and her husband Jesse. Son in law, Gary Bianchi and great grandchildren Elizabeth and Antonio Joao. Niece Maria Cruz; Great nephews Fernando Castro and Antonio Castro. She leaves behind several cousins in the Ludlow area including Americo Pereira, Manuel Pereira, Conceicao Olmos and Alcino Pereira, Fatima Ferreira, and many other family members in Portugal, Germany and Brazil. Adelaide's family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude to the all of the caring staff at Wingate of Wilbraham B2 unit, and also most recently to the Wing Hospice Care.  You made her last days here on earth bearable.  Thank you for your kind words, songs and understanding. Funeral services will take place on Saturday, December 12th at 9am at Ratell Funeral Home, 200 Main St, Indian Orchard, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10am in Our Lady of Sacred Heart Church, 417 Boston Rd, Springfield. Burial in St. Aloysius Cemetery, 1273 Berkshire Ave, Indian Orchard. Calling hours will be on Friday from 5-7PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Adelaide's memory to "Rebuild St. Jude" c/o OLSH Parish, 51 Rosewell Ave, Springfield, MA 01109 or to "Empty Arms Bereavement Support" 85 Easthampton Rd Westhampton, MA 01027. For further information please visit ratellfuneralhome.com. Ratell Funeral Home(413) 543-3836