Gracelina Maria (da Silva Picanço) Bettencourt

Gracelina Maria (da Silva Picanço) Bettencourt, 75, a longtime resident of Stoughton, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 following a courageous battle with Alzheimer's Disease. She was the beloved wife of Francisco Sousa Bettencourt for 57 years.

Gracelina was born and raised in Luz, Graciosa, Azores, Portugal, daughter of the late Manuel Correia Picanço and Maria da Silva. She immigrated to the United States and settled in Cambridge, MA on February 14, 1971. While living in Cambridge, she worked at Priscilla of Boston doing what she loved, making and tailoring beautiful pieces of clothing. In December 1977, she moved to Stoughton where she worked at Reliable Electronic Finishing in Canton, MA until having her daughter. Gracelina dedicated herself to raising her beloved daughter and supporting her in every way possible. They were the closest of friends and were passionate about learning and enjoying life. They would try new recipes together, see new places, go on weekly shopping trips and take daily walks around the neighborhood. She was a communicant of Immaculate Conception Church in Stoughton and enjoyed listening to Portuguese music. Some of her favorite hobbies included crocheting, knitting, gardening and being outside in the summer. She loved spending time with her family and her cat, Mia.

Besides her loving husband, she is survived by her daughter, Anna Bettencourt of Stoughton, her brother, Manuel Ambrosio and sister-in-law Gertrudes Ambrosio of Lowell and many nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Zulmira da Silva, Odelta de Jesus Silva, Charles Picanço, and Manuel Picanço.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, funeral services will be private. Interment will take place at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Stoughton. Donations in Gracelina's memory may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 309 Waverley Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452. (www.alzmassnh.org.)