Submitter's First Name
Christian
Submitter's Last Name
de Rezendes
Relationship to Honoree
Grandson
Submitter's Phone Number
401-651-1839
Submitter's Email Address
breakingbranches@gmail.com
Mill Employee First Name
Alzira
Mill Employee Middle Name
de Jesus
Mill Employee Last Name
Rodrigues
Mill Employee Maiden Name
Soares
Mill Employee Birth Date
Mill Employee Birthplace
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Mill Employee Workplace 1
Glenark Knitting
Job Title 1
Weaver
Mill Employee Start Date 1
1934
Mill Employee End Date 1
1947
Mill Employee Nickname
Elsy
Mill Employee Ethnic Identity
Portuguese
Biography Text
Alzira immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 16 from a village in the north of Portugal called Boucoais. She did not speak a word of English upon her arrival here. She settled with family in South Attleboro, MA and began working in the Royal Weaver Mill. In 1933 she met Mario Rodrigues in Valley Falls, Cumberland. Shortly after, in 1934 they moved to Woonsocket where Alzira took a job as a weaver in the Glenark Mill. She worked in this mill until 1947 when her daughter, Natalia was born. In 1952 the family moved to North Smithfield. Her husband, Mario died in 1987. Alzira lived until 2007 dying 20 years and 3 days after Mario.