Rosita (Silva) Andrews, 72, Chief of the Massachusett Natick Praying Indians

[broadstreet zone=”63788″]

[broadstreet zone=”66384″]

NATICK – Rosita M. (Silva) Andrews, 72, a longtime Chief of the Massachusett Natick Praying Indians, passed away Sunday, April 2, 2023, surrounded by her beloved family.

She was the wife of Lyn C. Hovey.

Born in Boston, she was raised and educated in Stoughton and was a graduate of Stoughton High School, class of 1968. Rosita also attended Mass Bay Community College, Wellesley College and Stonehill College.

She was an accomplished writer and proudly published three books, the most notable being “The Words of the Father as Given to Naticksqw Chief Caring Hands”.

Since 1995, she was the Chief of the Massachusett Natick, Ponkapoag and Nashoba Praying Indians, and upon the passing of her mother, she became the Grand Squaw Sachem.

She was the Pastor of the Indigenous services at the Eliot Church in Natick, where she emphasized love for God while maintaining cultural identity.

Previously, she was the first woman of color to work in the Stoughton Town Hall, and the first woman of color Victim’s Advocate at the Dorchester District Court. She also worked with her husband at  the Lyn Hovey Studio, a stained glass studio in Dorchester. 

Rosita loved spending time with her family and, in her free time, she enjoyed reading. She had an appreciation for animals and all of nature and loved to laugh. Rosita received her indigenous name, Caring Hands, for her care and great love for others. Later as her journey of teaching, healing and bringing the Words of the Father to the world, she was blessed with the spiritual name of Naticksqw.

[broadstreet zone=”151096″]

Rosita was preceded in death by her father, Alfred J. Silva and her mother, Grand Squaw Sachem Jeannette Silva.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children, Tamara M. Jordan of Lunenburg, MA, Carmen M. Fortes and her husband Steven of West Bridgewater, Gabriel R. Andrews of E. Taunton, Amberrose T. Orlando and her husband Joseph of W. Bridgewater and Christiana M. Andrews of Norton. She was the grandmother of Talitha Fortes, Joshua Jordan, Noah Orlando, Neyana Fortes, Talia Andrews and Kirt Elijah Bear Jordan who passed in 2005. Rosita is survived by her siblings, Lolita Savory, Alberta Silva, Renardo Silva, Anthony Silva, and Juan Silva, all of Brockton, Alfred J. Silva, Jr of NH, Carlos Silva of Southboro, Ricardo Silva of Norton, Juanita Cobbs of Middleboro, and Shawn Silva and Rita Gomes of Stoughton. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Service will be held in the Farley Funeral Home, 358 Park St. (Rt. 27) Stoughton on Friday, April 7 at 10 a.m.

Visiting Hours will be on Thursday from 4-7 p.m.

Interment will take place at Evergreen Cemetery, Stoughton.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Rosita’s memory may be made to the Massachusett Natick Praying Indians, Care of Be About my Father’s Business, PO Box 142, Chartley, Ma. 02712.

[broadstreet zone=”66385″]