Mildred H. (Gonsalves) Rocker died unexpectedly on Oct. 16. She was 68.

She had been diagnosed with cancer in 2005 and her family immediately contacted Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard. Mildred started chemotherapy and radiation, but decided to discontinue. Through prayers, love and support from her family and a strong determination to live, she was able to lead an independent life for the next four years.

She was the daughter of Harry W. Rocker Sr. of Chappaquiddick and Margaret May Connors of East Providence, both now deceased. She attended school in Providence until second grade. Her family moved back to Oak Bluffs and she attended the Oak Bluffs School. She was an active member of the 4H club as a young teenager, enjoying trips, camp and horseback riding. She was an excellent swimmer.

She met her husband Joe at a dance in Vineyard Haven. They moved to Aquinnah where she worked for Yvette Eastman of East Pasture. Their home in Lobsterville was a summer destination for her friends and family. In the winter of 1963 they lost everything to a house fire and bought a house in Vineyard Haven. Mildred worked for many years in food services. She worked at many different Island restaurants: Lee’s Coffee Shop in Oak Bluffs, The Mansion House, The Dunes in Katama and the Bowling Alley. She was employed with the Steamship Authority, working at the lunch counter aboard the Islander for eight years. In 1986 their home on Summer street burned down. Mildred, once again, pulled her family back together and she and Joe built the home of their dreams. She opened a day care center to help her children with child care. After the grandchildren were all in school, she worked at the Edgartown Stop & Shop in the deli department. She loved to socialize with her co-workers and customers.

Mildred was the heartbeat of her large family. Her home on Summer street was well known for her family gatherings. She especially loved hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, and her table settings, sometimes for as many as 25 people, looked like they belonged in a magazine. She decorated her home for every holiday. One Halloween she filled over 125 individual bags of candy to hand out to all the visiting trick or treaters. She loved to have family and friends over. She would open her living room up so her children and friends could come over and watch football, baseball or basketball games. Her grandchildren always wanted their birthday parties at Nanny’s house. She enjoyed tailgate parties at Norton Point and packing picnics for Dogfish Bar. She would dig for clams and quahaugs with her feet. Family vacations were action packed. She loved to go on cruises to the Caribbean islands. She enjoyed great food and getting dressed up. She had a green thumb and her house was always filled with vibrant green plants.

She was a member of the VFW Women’s Auxiliary Post 9261 of Oak Bluffs, and a member of the Chappaquiddick Tribe of the Wampanoag Indian Nation. She was the granddaughter of Eunice C. Rocker, who is listed on the Earle Report dated 1861. She was a member of St. Augustine’s Church in Vineyard Haven.

Mildred was a loving wife, mom, sister, aunt, mother in law and grandmother. She is survived by two sisters, Shirley Delgardo of Providence and Eunice Moreis of Oak Bluffs and their children; her former husband, Joseph B. Gonsalves Jr.; daughters Margaret Oliveira of Oak Bluffs and her husband David and daughter Alicia; Lynn Larkin and her husband Joe of Lynn and their children John, Phillip and Miguel Gonsalves, Corey and Lindsey Gonsalves; Yvette Turner of Oak Bluffs, her husband Mark and their children Sarah, Mark and Christian; sons Joseph B. Gonsalves 3rd, his wife Rosalind and their children Jordan, Hannah, and Matthew; John Gonsalves of Oak Bluffs and his children Amanda and Ryan; and great-granddaughter Mya Perez. She was predeceased by son Anthony Gonsalves and is survived by his children Nicholas and Carly.

Her funeral will be celebrated on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Oak Bluffs. Interment of her cremated remains will follow in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Oak Bluffs.

In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, P.O. Box 2549, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557 or the Benevolent Fund of the Holy Ghost Association, (PA Club) P.O. Box 2203, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.