Mary V. (Ferreira) Sylvia, 99, of New bedford died October 3, 2011 at Royal Taber Street Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
She was the wife of the late Albert Sylvia, James Yorston and Capt. Manuel Cruz.
Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Manuel and Mary (Rapoza) Ferreira, she lived in the Greater New Bedford area for most of her life.
She was a former member of the Sol-E-Mar Senior Citizens, Dartmouth Senior Citizens, Friendly Visitors of YWCA, and the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind.
Your Theater in New Bedford honored Mary by performing "Water Widow" in her honor. The play was based on Mary's loss of her husband, fishing Captain Manuel Cruz, who was lost at sea in 1942.
Survivors include 2 sons, Ronald M. Cruz of Bristol, RI and Michael B. Yorston of Acushnet; 2 stepdaughters, Patricia Charron and Barbara Mercurio both of Rhode Island; 4 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She was the step-mother of the late James Yorston and the sister of the late Manuel, George, Raymond and Geraldo Ferreira and Alice Souza.

Funeral from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford Saturday, October 8th at 8 AM. Funeral Mass at St. Mary's Church, Tarkiln Hill Rd., New Bedford at 9 AM. Burial will follow in Acushnet Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Friday, October 7th from 4-8 PM. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, 48 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116.