Emily Almeida1906 - 2010 Emily Almeida, 103, died peacefully in her sleep after living a long and full life. She was born in Rhode Island on May 13th, 1906, the oldest of nine brothers and sisters. She traveled the states extensively with her family before settling in Connecticut with her husband. She was widowed in her early 50s and having no children she moved back to Maine to be closer to her siblings and their families. Emily's interests were many and varied. She was passionate about gardening and her African violets were legendary. She could sew a skirt by hand in an afternoon and crochet beautiful lace scarf in a week. She loved Days of our Lives, horse racing, people watching, board games, traveling, baking and the challenge of a jigsaw puzzle. Most of all, Emily loved her nieces and nephews, as they did her. She never took on the role of the 'aunt' but rather the oldest child. Her place was always at the children's table during family functions and when no one ate because they were giggling too hard there was no scolding because it was understood Aunt Emmy probably started it. Sleep overs meant very little sleep as she told ghost stories that sometimes even scared her. Even into her 70's you would find her on the floor playing with the little ones and told wonderful stories of the family history and all she had seen. Emily is survived by her brother Joseph Silva of Randolph, her sister, Marion Hennessey of Augusta, neices Sharon Hennessey of Augusta, Mary Silva of Randolph, Kathy Armstrong of Randolph, nephews Ted Silva of Gray and Joseph Silva Jr of Windsor, many great and great-great nieces and nephews and her extended family at the Woodland Assisted Living Center in Hallowell. Visiting hours will be held Friday, April 2 from 1:30pm to 2:30pm where funeral services will follow the visiting at 2:30pm at Staples Funeral Home 53 Brunswick Ave. in Gardiner. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Woodlands Assisted Living Center, Activity Fund 152 Winthrop St Hallowell 04347