Maria Genevieve Prada Was Known for Humor

Maria Genevieve (Gen) Prada died suddenly and peacefully at her home in Edgartown on Dec. 14, two weeks after happily celebrating her 90th birthday with family and friends. She will be remembered as being "chipper as a little bird" until the day of her death.

She was a devoted member of the Catholic Church and of her family, both of whom received her constant thought and prayers. Her house was filled with photographs of her husband, the late Albert Prada, her children and grandchildren, and many priests with whom she had worshipped over the years.

She was born on Nov. 30, 1914, in Fall River, the daughter of Ernesto Pacheco Melo and Maria E. Melo, both of whom were born on Sao Miguel, Azores. She came with her father and stepmother to Martha's Vineyard when she was a young girl, and grew up in Chilmark where her father was groundskeeper at Seven Gates Farm and for Dr. Ganz at Holly Home. She spoke only Portuguese until she went to school.

She married Albert H. Prada of Edgartown on Dec. 10, 1934, and with him reared two daughters, Shirley and Joyce. In 1954 she and her husband opened Al's Package Store on Main street. Later they moved the store to the corner of Upper Main street and Pinehurst Road, where they were in business until their retirement in 1974.

Following her husband's death in 1986, she remained in residence at their house on Green avenue, where she dedicated herself to volunteer work at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital and at St. Elizabeth's Church.

She is survived by two daughters, Shirley J. Craig of Edgartown and Joyce Harding Goldfield of Inverness, Calif.; five grandchildren, James Craig, Kimberlie Lynch, Cindy Goldfield, John Goldfield and Daniel Goldfield, and by eight great-grandchildren.

Visiting hours will be held in the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, off Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road, on Friday, Dec. 17, from 6 to 7 p.m.

Her funeral mass will be celebrated in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, on Massasoit avenue in Oak Bluffs, on Dec. 18 at 10 a.m. Following her interment in the Old Westside Cemetery, Edgartown, next to her husband, a reception will be held at St. Elizabeth's Church parish hall.

In lieu of flowers, she requested that donations be sent to any organization devoted to the preservation of wildlife or the humane care of animals.