Maria Lena Helena de Lemos Tucker

Maria Helena “Lena” de Lemos Tucker died Sunday, February 20, 2011 at The Oaks of Mayview after a brief illness. Lena was born in Recife, Brazil to Beatriz Amorim de Lemos and Carlos Pery de Lemos and was the last of 10 children. She came to live in Raleigh just after World War II after marrying James Elliott “Hap” Tucker. They were wed three separate times: twice by proxy in Brazil and a third time by a Georgia judge upon Lena’s arrival back in the United States. She braved a new world by leaving her family and native country and moving to Raleigh 63 years ago. After several years in Raleigh, Lena and Hap moved to New Bern, returning to Raleigh in 1974.

Lena was a fun-loving individual who, through last year at 93 years old, continued to vacation every summer with her daughter and nephews and nieces at Atlantic Beach. She spoke three languages, did beautiful handwork, loved fine antiques, and was a wonderful cook.

Lena’s husband and her son, William Thomas Tucker, predeceased her.

Surviving are her daughter, Beatriz “Bibi” Tucker and her husband, Neal Harrison; and a host of nephews and nieces of Beaufort, SC; Recife, Brazil; Greensboro, NC; Washington, DC; Eagle, MI; and Raleigh, NC.

A graveside service will be held at Oakwood Cemetery at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 24, 2011. The family will receive friends at the home of her daughter, 2132 Ridge Road, immediately after the service.

The family would like to thank her doctor, William Dunlap; the staffs of Good Health Services, Inc.; Independence Village of Olde Raleigh; The Oaks of Mayview; and Hospice of Wake County.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Hospice of Wake County, Inc., 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Saint Mary’s St. Raleigh, NC, (919) 828-4311.