ObituariesNorma P. Rocha
NEW BEDFORD -- Norma P. (Babineau) Rocha, 56, of New Bedford, died Saturday, Jan. 3, 1998, unexpectedly at home.
She was the daughter of the late Edgar J. and Delia (Roy) Babineau Bernier.
Born in Acushnet, she lived in New Bedford most of her life.
Ms. Roach formerly was employed as an inspector for Epic Inc. and Isotronics.
She was a graduate of Kinyon Business School and attended Bristol Community College.
She was a member of the New Bedford Hotel Senior Citizens and had been active as a constable in New Bedford.
She was formerly active in Reflections and served on its board of directors.
Survivors include her companion for many years, Lois Saunders of New Bedford; a sister, Rev. Rita Miranda of New Bedford; a brother, Kenneth Babineau of New Bedford; a niece; a nephew; and aunts, uncles, and cousins.
She was the sister of the late Edmond J. Babineau.
Her funeral service, conducted by her sister Rev. Rita Miranda, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals.
Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St.
Natalie R. Strachoff
TAUNTON -- Natalie R. (Reid) Strachoff, 66, a Taunton resident for more than 45 years, died Saturday Jan. 3, 1998, at her home.
She was the widow of Nicholas Strachoff who died in 1994.
Mrs. Strachoff was born in Raynham, daughter of the late Lyle M. and Pauline (Spousta) Reid.
She was educated in the Raynham schools. She was employed by the Paul A. Dever School as a housekeeper for more than 20 years, retiring in 1992. Prior to living in Taunton, she lived in Raynham for many years.
SHE WAS A MEMBER OF THE RAYNHAM BIBLE FELLOWSHIP CHURCH.
Survivors include three daughters, Cheryl Baker of Wareham, and Nikki Strachoff and Valerie Smith, both of Taunton; a son Gregory Strachoff of East Taunton; a sister, Caroline McKenney of Raynham; six grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.
She also was the sister of the late Lyle M. Reid II.
Her funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Taunton Funeral Home, 8 Crapo St.
Charles R. Duchemin
FALL RIVER -- Charles R. Duchemin, 77, of Shawomet Gardens, Somerset, formerly of Swansea, died Saturday, Jan. 3, 1998, at the Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River. He was the husband of Rita C. Poisson-Duchemin.
Born in Hartford, Conn., he was the son of the late Robert L. and Delia (Chenard) Duchemin. Mr. Duchemin had lived in Somerset for four years and previously in Swansea for many years.
A communicant and usher at Our Lady of Fatima Church, Swansea, he attended and was an instructor at the New Bedford Vocational School. He was certified in small-engine repair.
Survivors include his widow; a stepdaughter, Christine Borzaro of Cranston, R.I.; three stepsons, David Poisson of Sterling, Va., Michael Poisson of East Providence, R.I., and Guy Poisson of Somerset; two brothers, Raymond Duchemin of San Jose, Calif., and Roland Duchemin of Olde Saybrook, Conn.; and six grandchildren.
He was the brother of the late Andre Duchemin.
His funeral will be held at 9 a.m. Wednesday from the Hathaway Community Home for Funerals, 900 Buffinton St., Somerset. His funeral Mass will be at 10 at Our Lady of Fatima Church, Gardners' Neck Road.
Irene Machado
NEW BEDFORD -- Irene Machado, 85, of New Bedford, died Saturday, Jan. 3, 1998, at St. Luke's Hospital after a brief illness.
She was the widow of Antone Machado and daughter of the late Frances S. (Braga) and Manuel M. Correira.
She was born in New Bedford and lived here in the city all her life.
She was a communicant of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.
She formerly was employed by Cornell Dubilier as a winder until her retirement.
Survivors include a son, Donald Machado of West Warwick, R.I.; a sister, Ellen Lizotte of New Bedford, two grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.
She was the sister of the late Manuel, John, and George Correira and Mary Carreiro.
Her funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.
Arrangements are by the Perry Funeral Home, 111 Dartmouth St.
Francis Wilga
BEDFORD -- Telespore-Francis "Ted" Wilga, 76, of Bedford, died Friday, Jan. 2, 1998, at his home. He was the husband of Brigitte C. (Schulze) Wilga.
Born in New Bedford, he was the son of the late Francis and Lenora (Schmidach) Wilga.
Mr. Wilga was a veteran of World War II and retired from the Army Corp of Engineers in 1980 after 36 years of service.
He was a 1976 graduate of Boston State College.
He was a distinguished Toastmaster and was a co-founder of the Alcott Toastmaster's Club of Concord. Mr. Wilga was a past district governor and international director for Toastmaster's International.
He was an active member of St. Michael Church and taught in the religious education program at the church. He also was the director there from 1981 until his death.
He was a loving and devoted husband and father and dedicated a lot of his time to the church and the community.
Survivors include his widow; two sons, Thomas A. of Burlington and Marc F. of Bedford; and a brother, Henry A. Wilga of New Bedford.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday in St. Michael Church, 90 Concord Road.
Arrangements are by the Bedford Funeral Home, 187, The Great Road.
Priscilla A. Sward
BOSTON -- Priscilla "Dolly" Ann (Smith) Sward, 62, of Wareham died unexpectedly, Saturday, Jan. 3, 1998, at the New England Baptist Hospital after a brief illness.
She was the daughter of the late Frederick and Etta (Willet) Smith.
She was born in Waltham and was a longtime resident of Connecticut before moving to Wareham 21 years ago.
She worked for the Marian Heath Greeting Cards Co. as a production worker in Wareham for many years.
She enjoyed crafts which she taught in her cellar. She also enjoyed shopping, lunching, and traveling with her daughter and most recently her new grandson.
Survivors include a son, Richard Sward of Connecticut; a daughter, Deanna Semple of Plymouth; a brother, Walter Sward of Hanover; two sisters, Kathleen Bouley of Hanover; and Gerry of Boston.
Arrangements are by the Stott, Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Highway, Wareham.
Albino Rodrigues
NEW BEDFORD -- Albino Rodrigues, 82, of New Bedford, died Saturday, Jan. 3, 1998, at St. Luke's Hospital after a long illness.
He was the widower of Arminda (Portal) Rodrigues and son of the late Antonio and Joaquina (Sousa) Simao.
He was born in Chaves, Portugal, and lived in New Bedford for 22 years.
He was a communicant of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church.
Mr. Rodrigues was formerly employed by Lisa K. Shoe Co. in the maintenance department until his retirement.
Survivors include a son, Manuel Portal of France .
A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church.
Arrangements are by the Boulevard Funeral Home, 223 Ashley Blvd.
Raymond G. Besse
FAIRHAVEN -- Raymond G. Besse, 84, of Fairhaven, died Saturday, Jan. 3. 1998, at home.
He was the widower of Louise E. (Osberg) Besse and son of the late Millage G. and Eva M. (Moody) Besse.
He was born in New Bedford and graduated from New Bedford High School. Mr. Besse moved to Fairhaven in 1947.
He formerly was employed by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. in New Bedford as a production scheduler for 24 years before his retirement in 1975.
He was a member of the First Congregational Church of Fairhaven.
He was an Army veteran of World War II. He saw military action in Rhineland and Central Europe and was awarded the European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon, the American Theater Camping Ribbon and the Victory Medal.
During the early 1950s until 1982, Mr. Besse was a well-known musician, playing locally with his own orchestra, known as the Ray Besse Orchestra. Mr. Besse played the vibes.
Prior to that time, he played with the Kemp Reed Orchestra and then the Art Perry Orchestra throughout New England. He was the first person to perform live music on Providence radio station WPRO during its early years.
Mr. Besse was a member of the Post 1 American Legion State Baseball Championship league in 1929 and was a member of the American Federation of Musicians.
Mr. Besse was an avid sports fan and enjoyed watching baseball and soccer, as well as other sports. He also was an avid bowler.
Survivors include a son, Philip G. Besse of Fairhaven; two daughters, Rae Ellen O'Brien of Monroe, N.J., and Lorinda G. Oliveira of West Palm Beach, Fla; a sister, Barbara Lafferty of Fairhaven; six grandchildren; two great-granchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Mr. Besse was the brother of the late Willard Besse.
A funeral service will be held in the Fairhaven Funeral Home, 117 Main St., at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Arrangements are by the Fairhaven Funeral Home.
Mary L. Place, 102
FALL RIVER -- Mary Louise (Russell) Place, 102 of Highland Avenue, died Sunday, Jan. 4, 1998, at the Catholic Memorial Home. She was the widow of William T. Place Sr.
Born in Fall River, the daughter of the late Juiles and Georgianna (Lincourt) Russell, she had lived in Somerset for many years before moving to Fall River in 1992.
While living in Somerset, she was a communicant of St. Thomas More Church. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include two daughters, Dorothy Perkins of Somerset, and Sister Mary Louise Place O.P. of North Dartmouth; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a niece.
She was the mother of the late Thomas R. And William T. Place Jr. and the sister of the late Thomas Lincourt.
Her funeral will be held at 9 a.m. Wednesday from the Hathaway Home for Funerals, 1813 Robeson St., Fall River.
Her funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Catholic Memorial Home Chapel of Margaret Mary at 10.
Bonsai expert Yuji YoshimuraBy The Associated Press
MEDWAY -- Yuji Yoshimura, a master bonsai grower and one of the first bonsai experts to teach the art to the public, has died at the age of 76.
He died Dec. 24 at Medway Country Manor.
Born in Tokyo, he was the son of Toshiji Yoshimura, an expert in bonsai, the art of dwarfing and shaping plants or shrubs in shallow pots.
Following in his father's footsteps, he was trained at the Tokyo Horticultural School, then took the unconventional route of teaching the public the art of pruning, grafting and training vegetation by adding carefully measured amounts of water, light and fertilizer.
In 1958, Yoshimura came to United States on a fellowship from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. He later formed the Yoshimura Bonsai Co. in Tarrytown, N.Y., and the Yoshimura School of Bonsai in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y., where he taught until 1995. Yoshimura also taught at the New York Botanical Garden and authored books, articles and an audio-visual course on bonsai and suiseki, the art of stone arrangement.
In 1990, Yoshimura's friends and students donated the Yuji Yoshimura Educational Center at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum of the National Arboretum in Washington.
He is survived by his widow, Kazuko Nagano Yoshimura of Tokyo, two daughters and four grandchildren.
James A. Hill
WAREHAM -- James A. Hill, 66, of Main Avenue, Onset, died Saturday, Jan. 3, 1998. He was the husband of Jeanette (Nightingale) Hill and son of the late Jamie A. and Ethel (Flanagan) Hill.
He was born in Brockton. He served in the Navy from 1951-55.
Mr. Hill was a shipper for Proctor & Gamble in Quincy for 25 years until he retired in 1986. He worked for the Wareham harbormaster four years and was herring inspector six years.
He was member of the Wareham Elks, Buzzards Bay Eagles and the American Legion in Wareham.
Mr. Hill spent many summers in Wareham before moving to Onset 22 years ago.
Survivors include his widow; two sons, Berry F. Hill of Wareham and Jamie A. Hill of Brockton; two sisters, Arlene Pratt of Plymouth and Kathleen Tonelli of Brockton; two grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Arrangements are by the Stott, Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Highway (Route 28).
Jacintha d'Oliveira, 96
DARTMOUTH -- Jacintha "Jesse" d'Oliveira, 96, of South Dartmouth, formerly of New Bedford, died at home Sunday, Jan. 4, 1998, after a long illness. She was the widow of Manuel d'Oliveira and daughter of the late Julia (Carvalho) and Manuel Pacheco.
She was born in Ribeira Quente, Sao Miguel, Azores, and lived in this area since 1912.
She was a communicant of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, New Bedford.
Mrs. d'Oliveira was devoted to family and enjoyed the friendship of her neighbors and had many friends, young and old.
She loved working in her garden and sharing her plants and flowers with all who wanted them.
Survivors include a son, John Oliveira of Lakeville; two daughters, Dorothea E. Macedo of South Dartmouth and Hilda McDonald of Rockland; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and several godchildren.
Her funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.
Arrangements are by the Perry Funeral Home, 111 Dartmouth St., New Bedford.
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