Lillian (Tavares) Cardoza, 87, of East Wareham died on April 10, 2015 at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford. She was the daughter of the late Manuel and Maria (Souza) Tavares and the widow of the late Anthony R. Cardoza.

Lillian was raised in East Falmouth and attended Falmouth Public Schools. In her teen years, she worked at the Five and Dime in Falmouth and in the USO at Camp Edwards, now known as Joint Base Cape Cod. Lillian met and married her first husband, Walter Cockerham, Jr. in 1946 and settled in East Falmouth. The marriage brought forth four children before ending in 1958. Lillian then married the love of her life, Anthony Cardoza and moved to East Wareham where they had two more children.

Mrs. Cardoza worked for 27 years at the Wareham Laundry Center. She loved spending her spare time in her showcase early American furnished home and also was a great cook. She very much enjoyed Christmas when she would hold her “Midnight Breakfast” which she would cook for the entire family. She also had a passion for collecting dolls. Her collection became both voluminous and valuable. In her later life, she loved to frequent the local Karaoke club, and she quickly became a celebrity at the club.

Lillian is survived by her children, John Cockerham and his wife Cindy of Raynham, Joan Hill and her husband Richard of Lady Lakes, FL; Debra Ladd and her husband Scott of Rochester, Caron Krier and her husband Jack of Daytona Beach, FL and Scott Cardoza of East Wareham. She also leaves four grandchildren and three great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her son, the late Mark Cardoza and her granddaughter, the late Kristen Ladd.

Her funeral will be from the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Highway (Rt. 28), Wareham on Thursday, April 16, 2015 at 10 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Patrick’s Church, High St., Wareham at 11 a.m. Interment will be in Mass. National Cemetery, Bourne. Visiting hours will be Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Donation in her memory may be made to St. Patrick’s Church, 82 High St., Wareham, MA 02571. For directions and on-line guestbook visit: www.ccgfuneralhome.com.