Maria Manuela Gil, 97, of Peabody, died Saturday morning at her home surrounded by her family following a brief illness. She was the devoted wife of the late Joao Gil. Born in Graciosa, Azores, Portugal, she was the daughter of the late Manuel Sousa DaSilva and Rosa Gil. She was raised in Portugal and in 1960 she immigrated with her family to the United States and has lived in Peabody for the past 62 years. Maria enjoyed raising her family and was a member of the Holy Ghost Society, she also enjoyed helping raise her grandchildren and great grandchildren and all agreed with this sentiment, “the best mother any child could have.”Maria is survived by her children, John Gil of Peabody, Maria Joao Gil and her late significant other Raymond Silva of Beverly, Antonio Gil Bettencourt and his wife Maria of Danvers, Maria Elpidia Nunes and her husband Manuel of Peabody, Heliodoro Gil of AZ, Diane Pais and her husband Jose of Peabody, and Robert Gil and his significant other Sandra Aliberti of Peabody, her beloved grandchildren, Anthony Pais, Jill and her husband Mark Anderson, Jolene and Jeffrey Divoll, Sheri Gil, Rachael and Tyler DeStefano, Ashley Gil, Nathan and Amy Gil, Jaclyn True and her significant other, Ryan Lucas, her five great grandchildren, Bree and Cole Anderson, Zachary Lucas, and Harrison and Ella DeStefano, her sister-in-law, Norma Bettencourt and is also survived by several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her daughter Sara Gil True and by her 15 brothers and sisters. Her funeral will be held on Friday at 9:00 AM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St, Peabody followed by her Funeral Mass at 10:00 AM at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Peabody to which relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours will be on Thursday from 5:00 until 8:00 PM. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. For directions and on-line obituary visit www.ccbfuneral.com