Eleanor (Sylvia) Roche, 80, of Mattapoisett died April 22 after a brief illness at Tobey Hospital in Wareham.

She was the beloved wife of Paul Roche for over 55 years. Born in New Bedford, she was the daughter of the late Joseph Sylvia and Margaret (Hawley) Sylvia.

During her life, Eleanor lived in Mattapoisett, Boston, Madison, CT, Sudbury, Bourne, finally returning home to Mattapoisett in 1994. Since then, she greatly enjoyed her time spent with her lifelong friends, aka The Golden Girls.

She was a communicant of St. Anthony’s Church in Mattapoisett, and was married there in 1957.

She was a graduate of Fairhaven High School, class of 1951 and Fisher College in Boston, class of 1953.

She leaves her husband, Paul Roche; their four sons, Brian Roche and wife Alison and David and wife Patricia all of Southborough, Stephen Roche and wife Donna of Hollis, NH, and Christopher and wife Kathleen of Westford; her brother Earle and his wife Mary Jane of Mattapoisett. She also leaves 11 grandchildren whose visits she so loved, and several nieces and nephews.

Her family will receive visitors at Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home For Funerals, 50 County Road, Mattapoisett on Friday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., followed by an 11 a.m Funeral Mass at St. Anthony’s Church.

Burial will follow at St. Anthony’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005.