Remembering Bella

Her name is Gabriella Carvalho Perpétuo, though to us, she is simply Bella. The firstborn daughter of Monique and Junior—Brazilian immigrants who met in highschool—she was born in Framingham, Massachusetts, on August 19, 1996. As a baby, she bore a bright red birthmark on her forehead. While the doctors were right that it would fade, it remained a “winter secret”; whenever the air grew cold, it would glow once more.

Bella was a devoted big sister to Isabella, her “little Izzy,” a responsibility she embraced from the very start. She grew up at the heart of a vibrant extended family, surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles, and a choir of cousins she loved fiercely.

Sharp-witted and stunning, Bella was a formidable debater who rarely, if ever, lost an argument—thanks to a blend of natural brilliance and sheer stubbornness. Though she was “no picnic,” she was a treasure to those who knew her. It would have been easy for her to pursue law, but her compassion led her to nursing. She felt a calling to protect the vulnerable, especially children, and she held a lifelong dream of motherhood. Whether as a nanny, an aunt, or a friend, she was the ultimate champion for every child in her life.

In the wake of her passing, Bella’s family created this website as a living sanctuary for her memory. It stands not only as a place to celebrate the vibrant, loving woman she was but also as a beacon of hope and a call to action. By sharing her story, they hope to bring vital awareness to the reality of domestic abuse, honoring Bella’s lifelong passion for helping others by protecting those who may still be in harm’s way.