Pauline (Mello) DaCosta, 87, passed away on Thursday, December 7, 2023 at the Woonsocket Health and Rehabilitation Centre. She was the wife of the late Procopio (Pete) F. DaCosta, and they were married for 59 years.  She lived in Cumberland for 64 years.

Born in Tiverton, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Alice (Travassos) Mello.  She is survived by her daughters Cheryl DaCosta and Robin Nash and her husband Stephen, all of Cumberland, her grandchildren Corey Nash and his wife Jackie of Plainville, MA and Ally Nash of Cumberland.  She was the sister of Janice (Mello) Correia of Tiverton, Thomas Mello and his wife Mary of Fall River, MA.  She was predeceased by her brothers Joseph Mello and Ronald Mello.  She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Pauline worked for 27 years as an ESL Teacher Assistant for the Cumberland School Department where she retired in 2003.  She previously worked at Pawtucket Dress.

She was a communicant of Our Lady of Fatima Church where she helped to sell raffle tickets at the annual feast for many years.  She was also a member of the Cumberland and St. Aidan Seniors Clubs.

Pauline and Pete loved to travel together including cross country in their grey and black van with shag interior, visits to Portugal, Azores, and Alaska. There were family trips to California, Colorado, Utah, and a 50th anniversary trip to Sedona, Arizona which the whole family will never forget.  She also looked forward to her annual Christmas shopping trip with her daughter Robin to North Conway, NH.

She loved potato chips, doing word searches and crossword puzzles, reading newspapers and books by Danielle Steele and Janet Evanovich.  In her later years she enjoyed watching the television shows Mom, The Golden Girls, and Mike and Molly with her daughter Cheryl.  Most of all she loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren Corey and Ally.

Pauline was a strong, loving woman who was the heart of her family.  She was an excellent cook and was famous for her Portuguese style stuffing at Thanksgiving.  She absolutely loved Christmas- spending days decorating, cooking, and putting up a large Christmas village display.  It was always the highlight of the year.  Her family is heartbroken, but will carry on her lessons of the importance of family, education, and holiday traditions.

Pauline fought cancer for the past 2 years.  Her family would like to thank the dedicated staff of the Landmark Cancer Center, the Woonsocket Health and Rehabilitation Centre (especially Pauline, Maria, Cheryl and Nadia), Harmony Hospice, and Del Amaral of Lifetime Medical for their love, care and support during the most challenging period of her life.

RELATIVES AND FRIENDS ARE KINDLY INVITED TO PAULINE'S MEMORIAL LIFE CELEBRATION TO BE HELD SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2024 AT 11 AM WITH A MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL AT 11 AM IN OUR LADY OF FATIMA CHURCH, FATIMA DRIVE, CUMBERLAND. BURIAL WAS PREVIOUSLY HELD PRIVATELY IN DECEMBER 2023.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 383 Main Avenue, 5th Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851 or the Hope Alzheimer's Center, 25 Brayton Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920.