Mary MacArthur Amaral Was Nurse at Hospital

Mary MacArthur (Fletcher) Amaral died on Jan. 26 at Beverly Hospital surrounded by family members. She was 72. Mrs. Amaral was born July 19, 1931, in Fall River, the daughter of the late James Howarth and Theresa Marie (Quinlivan) Fletcher. She grew up in Fall River and graduated from Durfee High School in 1949. She was married to the late Anthony Pacheco Amaral Sr. of Somerset and Edgartown.

She attended medical school after raising her children, and obtained her licensed practical nursing (LPN) certificate. Upon receiving her LPN license, she worked in several area hospitals, the American Red Cross and the Traveling Nurses, working in Hawaii. She returned to her family home on Martha's Vineyard where she worked at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital and did private nursing assignments for many years. Upon retirement, she resided with her beloved son, Anthony.

Mrs. Amaral was affectionately known to her grandchildren as Gram and enjoyed traveling to visit with them as well as visiting with her sister, Bubbles, and family in California. She enjoyed spending time with family, working crossword and jigsaw puzzles and visiting casinos throughout the country.

Mrs. Amaral is survived by five children, James P. Amaral and his wife, JoAnne, of Afton, Minn.; Timothy P. Amaral of Stratham, N.H.; Anthony P. Amaral Jr. of Somerset; Howard P. Amaral Sr. and his wife, Patricia, of Gloucester, and Theodore P. Amaral and his wife, Elizabeth. She is also survived by a sister, Muriel Stabile of Oceanside, Calif.; a brother, James Fletcher of Fall River; six grandchildren, Justin, Jared, Jaymie, Janine, Julia, and Howard Amaral Jr.; two great-grandchildren, Jeremy and Jacob, and close family friends, Robert and Muriel St. Amour and Rose Gagnon. Mrs. Amaral was predeceased by her brothers, Howarth and Augustus, and her sisters, Estelle Bradbury and Elsie Pavao.

Funeral arrangements were provided by the Gately Funeral Home in Melrose.

A family celebration of life, and burial with her late husband in the family plot on the Vineyard, will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Porphyria Foundation, P.O. Box 22712, Houston, TX 77227.