Candida Pires Gomes Barbosa Vicente a.k.a. "Mama" of Central Falls, RI, passed away peacefully at the age of 98 on May 10th 2023 in Providence, RI.
Candida was born in Cape Verde to Leao Pires Gomes and Feliciana Alves on August 5, 1924. She worked as a homemaker and was a caretaker to all who came into her life. Mama spread unconditional love and shared laughter with all. She enjoyed smoking her pipe a.k.a. canhoto and spending time with her loved ones. She also enjoyed cooking and feeding everyone she came across. To know Mama was to know pure love and kindness. Her last words to everyone were, "Deus Bai Ku Bo and I Love You."
Candida is survived by her children: Jesuino Xavier and daughter in law Doris Xavier, Samuel Vicente, Maria Vicente and son in law Brian Salazar Fonseca, Ana Barfield and son in law Peter Barfield, Nella Schwendemann and son in law Glen Schwendemann, and Alfredo Barros. She is survived by 19 stepchildren. She is survived by 11 grandchildren Celissa Fonseca and Carlene Fonseca, Danny Xavier, Jessy Xavier, Christopher Vicente, Paul Vicente, Paula Rosario, Peter Barfield, Brooke Barfield, Emily Schwendemann, and Andrew Schwendemann. She was survived by 7 great grandchildren and many more step grandchildren and step great grandchildren, and many loved nieces and nephews whom she embraced as her own. She is preceded in death by her late husband Paulino Barbosa Vicente, by her late children Leao Filipe and Augusto Vicente, daughter in law Peggy Vicente, grandchild Steven Vicente and preceded by 4 stepchildren.

Her Funeral will be held on Friday, May 19th at 8:30am from the Keefe Funeral Home, Five Higginson Ave., Lincoln. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Anthony Church, 32 Lawn Ave., Pawtucket at 10am. Burial will follow in Mount St. Mary Cemetery, 661 Prospect St., Pawtucket, RI. Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 18th from 5:00pm-8:00pm at The Keefe Funeral Home.
Memorial donations may be made to the Cape Verdean American Medical Society, 6 Liberty Square, #2449, Boston, MA 02109. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the staff at Miriam Hospital.