August 23, 2008
Obituary: Bernardete Bettencourt
Michael Wood READ TIME: 1 MIN.
Bernardete Bettencourt, 58, of Lowell, Massachusetts, died August 15, 2008 after a short illness.
She was born May 17, 1950, in Graciosa, Azores, moving to the United States with her family in 1967. She made her home in Lowell where she was an active member of the Holy Ghost Society, and the Holy Rosary Sodality at St. Anthony's Church.
Bernardete appeared on numerous television talk shows and programs with her gay son. She is survived by her son, Troix Bettencourt; a daughter, Elizabeth Duarte; three grandchildren; four sisters; two brothers; and many nieces, nephews and dear friends.
Her family would like to invite you to make a donation in her name to the Boston Alliance of GLBT Youth, Inc. (BAGLY), P.O. Box 960814, Boston, MA 02196-0814 or by phone at 617-227-4313.
SAUDADE: pronounced "saw'dadi", a Galician and Portuguese word with no real translation used to describe a feeling of nostalgic longing for something or someone that one was fond of and which is lost.
Michael Wood is a contributor and Editorial Assistant for EDGE Publications.