Obituaries

Related: Death Notices

*Index*
Virginia Pereira	John P. 'Joli' Gonsalves	Manuel Winderlick
Albert Carreiro	Deolinda Resendes	Ludger L. LaBonte
Frances G. Caron	Ernest N. Stevens	Frank Kouble
Emily B. Norman	Jeannette R. Rogers	Catherine C. Teixeira
Robyn P. Reopell	Jose Figueiredo	Margaret M. McCarthy

Virginia Pereira

WESTPORT -- Virginia Pereira, 64 of Converse Avenue died Thursday, April 23, 1998 at home after a long illness. She was the wife of Raymond Pereira with whom she celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary on Tuesday.

Born in Fall River, the daughter of the late Ivan and Elsie Bettencourt, she spent her youth in Fall River and had resided in Westport for 32 years.

Mrs. Pereira had been a store clerk for the former Kerr Mill Department Store in Fall River for 33 years, up until the time of her illness.

She was a member of Our Lady of Grace Church in Westport. She enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include three daughters, Sharon Norwood of Lakeville, Cheryle Levrault and Diane Costa, both of Fall River; a son, John Pereira of Westport; a sister, Marie Andrade of Florida; eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

She was also the sister of the late Louis Bettencourt and dear friend of Misty Pereira.

Arrangements were by the "Cherry Place" Home of Waring Ashton & Coughlin-Driscoll Funeral and Cremation Service, 178 Winter St., Fall River, where a private funeral service was held Friday, April 24, 1998.

John P. 'Joli' Gonsalves

NEW BEDFORD -- John P. "Joli" Gonsalves, 73, of New Bedford, a well-known figure in the Cape Verdean community and a local civic and cultural leader, died at the home of his sister in New Bedford on Friday, April 24, 1998.

After a promising career as a concert singer in Europe and Africa, Mr. Gonsalves continued his involvement in music and promoted cultural activities after returning to New Bedford.

Mr. Gonsalves was honored by the city in May 1990 for his founding of the Cape Verdean Cultural Center and his singing history of Cape Verdean culture. He had served as director of the center since its inception.

Born in New Bedford, Mr. Gonsalves was the son of the late Frank F. and Charlotte (Pires) Gonsalves. He grew up in New Bedford and attended local schools. A World War II Army veteran, he served in five campaigns in the Europe.

After the war, Mr. Gonsalves was a vocalist and percussionist with the first All-Star Cape Verdean Orchestra to tour the United States in 1947-48. He attended the Arlington Academy of Music in Arlington from 1949 until his graduation in 1952.

In his 13-year professional music career, Mr. Gonsalves worked as a chorister and stage manager with the Leonard de Pour Chorus and as a chorister and arranger for Harry Belafonte and the Belafonte Folk Singers.

During this period, he traveled to 14 countries in Africa under the auspices of the U.S. State Department. In Liberia, he was knighted by President William V.S. Tubman in recognation of his having composed a national anthem for the West African republic.

Mr. Gonsalves, a baritone, established two music publishing companies and recorded with numerous recording artists and as well as making appearances with many on network television, including the Ed Sullivan Show.

A near-fatal auto accident on Dec. 22, 1967, curtailed Mr. Gonsalves' professional singing career and brought him back to New Bedford where he worked as a newscaster for radio station WNBH from 1970 to l972.

He became a director of the Model Cities Community Development Corp., made his first visit to the Cape Verde Islands and founded the Cape Verdean Cultural Center.

In the succeeding years, Mr. Gonsalves was moderator and producer of a bilingual Cape Verdean television program telecast over Channel 6 for six years and served as a member and chairman of New Bedford's Human Relations Commission. He also served as a housing specialist for the city's Equal Opportunity Office at City Hall.

Mr. Gonsalves' civic involvement also included serving as chairman of the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority and as then-Mayor John K. Bullard's liaison to the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Development. He was given responsibility for establishing and co-ordinating the rehabilitation of New Bedford's housing stock.

Mr. Gonsalves also was employed between 1983 and 1985 as a teacher's aide in the fifth grade in an enrichment program for Talented and Gifted Children and as a bilingual aide in Portuguese and Cape Verdean (Crioulo) at the Sgt. William H. Carney Academy in New Bedford. He also wrote the school anthem.

As founder and director of the Cape Verdean Cultural Center, Mr. Gonsalves made himself available to individuals, organizations and educational institutes as a consultant, educator, historian, lecturer and musicologist. The center is located at South Street and Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford's South End.

Mr. Gonsalves also was very knowledgeable in the field of black history and on the Jewish influences on the Cape Verde Islands.

A communicant of Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Mr. Gonsalves was a member of the Our Lady of the Assumption Club and Seniors, the Lions Club -- he was a past president of the New Bedford Lions Club -- the Knights of Columbus, and Mass Action Seniors.

Mr. Gonsalves came from a musically talented family. He described his father as a "troubadour of sorts" who played the mandolin and entertained the family. A brother played the saxophone professionally and a cousin was star saxophonist in the Duke Ellington Orchestra.

Survivors include his son, John R. Gonsalves of New Bedford, and a sister, Mary G. Andrade of New Bedford.

He was the brother of the late August P. Gonsalves and Antonio P. Gonsalves.

His funeral Mass will be at 10 Monday at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 47 S. Sixth St., New Bedford.

Arrangements are by the Perry Funeral Home, 111 Dartmouth St., New Bedford.

Manuel Winderlick

NEW BEDFORD -- Manuel Winderlick, 74, of Dartmouth died on Friday, April 24, 1998, at St. Luke's Hospital after a long illness. He was the husband of Mary (Arruda) Winderlick.

Born in Dartmouth, son of the late George and Mary (Couto) Winderlick, Mr. Winderlick was a lifelong resident of the town and a communicant of St. Julie Billiart Church in North Dartmouth.

Mr. Winderlick was employed as warehouse manager for United Liquors until his retirement.

Survivors include his widow; two sons, Ronald Winderlick of New Bedford and George Winderlick of South Dartmouth; a brother, George Winderlick Jr. of North Dartmouth, and two sisters, Mary Teixeira of Fairhaven and Evelyn Sylvia of North Dartmouth; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren plus several nieces and nephews..

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Julie Billiart Church, Slocum Road, North Dartmouth.

Arrangements are by the Perry Funeral Home, 111 Dartmouth St.

Albert Carreiro

BOSTON -- Albert Carreiro of Wareham, a volunteer at the Sacred Heart Seminary and an active member of the St. Patrick's Church community, died Thursday, April 23, 1998. He was 76.

He was the husband of Anna (Cardoza) Carreiro.

Mr. Carreiro was born in New Bedford and lived in Wareham for the last 22 years.

Before retirement in 1977, he worked for the commonwealth as a machinist.

Mr. Carreiro was a member of the KFC Father Callahan Council in Wareham and served as a Eucharistic minister at St. Patrick's and St. Anthony's churches. He was instrumental in collecting money needed to develop the Garden of Life memorial at St. Patrick's Church. He volunteered a the Sacred Heart Seminary.

A World War II navy veteran, he belonged to the Cape Cod Wood Carvers club.

Survivors include a son, Albert Wayne Carreiro of Salisbury; two sisters, Hilda Fernandes and May C. Costa, both of New Bedford; two grandsons, Wayne Carreiro and Michael Carreiro of Salisbury.

A funeral Mass will be held 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Patrick's Church.

Arrangements are by the Stott, Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, Wareham.

Deolinda Resendes

NEW BEDFORD -- Deolinda (Correia) Resendes, 77, of New Bedford, died on Friday, April 24, 1998, at St. Luke's Hospital after a brief illness. She was the wife of Carlos C. Resendes, and daughter of the late Manuel and Maria (Batista) Correia.

Born in Taunton, she lived in this area most of her life. She was a communicant of St. Mary's Church and was formerly employed by Slender Tones as a stitcher.

Along with her widower, survivors include four sisters, Maria Vieira of Dartmouth; Yvonne Isedor and Angelina daCosta of New Bedford; and Maria Cesaltina Mello of Thunder Bay, Canada; and several nieces and nephews.

Arrangements are by the Boulevard Funeral Home, 223 Ashley Blvd.

Ludger L. LaBonte

FALL RIVER -- Ludger L. "Lou" Labonte, 82, of Fall River died Friday, April 24, 1998, at Charlton Memorial Hospital.

He was the husband of Lauretta (Robillard) Labonte, to whom he had been married for 51 years.

Born in Fall River, he was the son of the late Joseph and Julie (Brisebois) Labonte and the last survivor of eight siblings. Mr. LaBonte was a lifelong city resident.

Mr. LaBonte was a World War II army veteran. He received the Bronze Star and was a member of the Tiverton, R.I., Veterans of Foreign Wars post.

Mr. LaBonte worked for many years in the textile industry. He was a communicant of Blessed Sacrament Church.

Survivors include two daughters, Pauline Harbaugh of Port Aransas Texas and Anne Flavin of Fall River; four grandchildren, eight grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

He was also the brother of the late Albina Hopkins, Eva Coleman, Rose Lamarre and Joseph LaBonte, Romeo LaBonte, Wilfred LaBonte and Amy LaBonte.

A funeral will be held 9 a.m. Monday from the Auclair Funeral Home, South Main Street. A Mass will be held 10 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church.

Arrangements are by the Auclair Funeral Home, 690 S. Main St.

Frances G. Caron

WEYMOUTH -- Private services were held Friday for Frances G. Caron, 56, of New Bedford, who died unexpectedly on Tuesday, April 21, 1998 at South Shore Hospital.

She was the daughter of the late Jack and Casmira (Franiewicz) Caron. She was born in New Bedford and was a lifelong resident of the city.

Survivors include two daughters, Melissa Caron and Misty Caron Fields, both of New Bedford; two brothers, John Caron and Robert Caron, both of New Bedford; a sister, Mildred Houghtman of New Bedford; a granddaughter and several nieces and nephews. She was also the sister of the late Joan Rivard.

Arrangements were by the Austin-Carney Funeral Home, 549 County St., New Bedford.

Ernest N. Stevens

DARTMOUTH -- Ernest Nelson (Spach) Stevens, 83, of North Dartmouth, died Monday, April 20, 1998.

He was the widower of Virginia (Ashley) Stevens.

Born in Dartmouth, son of the late Homer R. and Ora B. (Aldrich) Spach, he was a lifelong Dartmouth resident and a 1933 graduate of Dartmouth High School.

He had been a salesperson for the former Mendell Electric Supply Company for several years. He was a former New Bedford police officer.

He was a member of the South Dartmouth Congregational Church, where he and his wife had once organized their Youth Fellowship. He was a former member of the Rotary Club of Dartmouth, the Dartmouth Youth Athletic Association, the New Bedford Police Association, the Dartmouth Grange, was past president of the Dartmouth PTA, was a former member of the town's Board of Health, Housing Authority and was a former town meeting member. He was a mason, being a member of Eureka Lodge AF & AM. An avid bowler and golfer, he was a former member of the Hawthorn Country Club and the former Paskamansett Golf Club in Dartmouth.

Survivors include a daughter, Lynda S. White of Dartmouth; a grandson, Richard S. White III, of Dartmouth; a son-in-law, Richard S. White Jr.; and several nieces and nephews.

He was the brother of the late Eunice Carney, Ervin Spach and Harry Spach.

Arrangements are with the Dartmouth Funeral Home of Sullivan-Waring, 230 Russells Mills Road, South Dartmouth.

Frank Kouble

MATTAPOISETT -- Frank Kouble, 87, of Mattapoisett, died Wednesday, April 22, 1998 at his home after a brief illness. He was the widower of Rose Mary (Steele) Kouble, and the son of the late Frank and Frannie (Jarish) Kouble.

He was born in New Bedford and began as a summer resident of Mattapoisett in 1945, moving permanently in 1963. He had lived in Pawtucket, R.I. and Cumberland, R.I., in his earlier years.

Mr. Kouble owned and operated the Frank Kouble Co., a dealer in yarns, wire and cable machinery. He had previously worked for the former Mil-Mar Silk Mill in Cumberland. He later acquired and managed the United Silk and Rayon Mill in Rhode Island which was destroyed in the 1938 hurricane.

He was an avid fisherman and quahogger.

Survivors include a daughter, Frances M. Katterman of Royersford, Pa.; two sons, Frank R. Kouble of Pittsburg, N.H., and Barry C. Kouble of Barnstead, N.H., nine grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren.

His funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Fairlawn Mortuary of Sullivan-Waring, 180 Washington St., Fairhaven., which is handling arrangements.

Emily B. Norman, 93

FALL RIVER -- Emily B. (Duncan) Norman, 93, of Amity Street, formerly of 1863 Pleasant St., the former "Bogle Hill" Apartments, died Thursday, April 23, 1998.

She was the widow of Milton K. Norman.

Born in Fall River, a daughter of the late Alfred W. and Emma A. (Bush) Duncan, she was a lifetime Fall River resident.

She had been a finisher for various Fall River mills including the former Kerr Mill and M & G Linnen for over 50 years.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church and a former member of its Philathea Class. She was a member of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union and a former member of the Senior Citizens Center in the Flint.

Survivors include three granddaughters, Linda A. Soares of Swansea, Susan S. Auclaire of Fall River and Nancy D. Augustine of Franklin, Tenn.; a grandson and three great-grandchildren.

She was the mother of the late Dorothy E. Smith.

Arrangements are by the "Cherry Place" Home of Waring-Ashton & Coughlin, Sullivan-Driscoll, 178 Winter St.

Jeannette R. Rogers

LARGO, FLA. -- Jeanette R. (Turgeon) Pelletier Rogers, 77, died Wednesday, April 22, 1998, suddenly at Largo Medical Center.

She was the widow of Armand L. Pelletier and Manuel Rogers and daughter of the late Alcide and Blanche (St. Onge) Turgeon.

Mrs. Rogers was born in Fairhaven and had lived in New Bedford for many years. She then moved to Fairhaven where she lived for 18 years before moving to Acushnet where she lived for seven years and then moved to Largo a year ago.

Before her retirement, she worked as a cleaner for Gro-Tog Manufacturing in New Bedford for 17 years.

Survivors include five daughters, Patricia A. Wilson, Juliette Y. Garcia and Elaine Veeder, all of Fairhaven, Dolores Heroux of Danville, Va., and Lucille Theresa Frates of New Bedford; two sons, Barry Pelletier of Fairhaven and Ronald G. Pelletier of Largo; two stepchildren, Mildred Gilman of Largo and Wayne Rogers of New Bedford; two brothers, Roland Turgeon of New Bedford and Joseph N. Turgeon of East Freetown and Largo; 23 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Rogers was the sister of the late Hervey Turgeon and Leo Turgeon.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated in St. Joseph's Church at a later date.

Arrangements are by the National Cremation Society of Florida.

Catherine C. Teixeira

DARTMOUTH -- Catherine C. "Kitty" (Curran) Teixeira, 83, of South Dartmouth, died at home Friday, April 24, 1998 after a long illness. She was the widow of Henrique Teixeira and the daughter of the late Frank and Elizabeth (Mulroy) Curran.

Mrs. Teixeira was born in New Bedford where she lived until moving to Dartmouth 26 years ago. She was employed by Berkshire-Hathaway Corp. for many years, and was later employed at New Bedford Thread until her retirement in 1971.

She was a communicant of St. Mary's Church in South Dartmouth.

Mrs. Teixeira enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include a son, Henrique R. "Rick" Teixeira of New Bedford; two daughters, Joan A. Auger of New Bedford and Mary "Norma" Magan of South Dartmouth; two brothers, James Curran of Acushnet and Leonard Curran of Fairhaven; a sister, Elizabeth Mills of New Bedford; eight grandchildren; 11 grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was also the sister of the late Sarah Green, Francis Curran, Irene Rysz, and Annie Cryer.

Her funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Mary's Church in South Dartmouth.

Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford.

Robyn P. Reopell

WAREHAM -- Robyn P. Reopell, 35, of Wareham died unexpectedly Wednesday, April 22, 1998 in her home.

She was the daughter of the late George E. and Elizabeth A. (Flynn) Reopell.

She was born in Chelsea and attended Boston schools. She lived in Brockton for eight years before moving to Wareham where she lived for nine years.

She worked at Santoro's Sub Shop in Wareham for the past two years.

Survivors include her daughter, Nicole Corey, 12; a sister, Holly A. Albanese of Brockton; four brothers, Stephen E. Reopell of New York, Barry T. Reopell of Raynham, Brian S. Reopell of Stoneham and Jeffrey D. Reopell of New York; and several nieces and nephews.

Arrangements are by the John J. O'Connor & Son Funeral Home, 760 Washington St., Whitman. A funeral Mass will be held in St. Nicholas Church, Abington on Monday at 9 a.m.

Jose Figueiredo

NEW BEDFORD -- Private services were held for Jose Figueiredo, 85, of Acorn Street, who died at home on Wednesday, April 22, 1998. He was the widower of Fernanda (Rosa) Figueiredo.

The son of Elisa Figueiredo, Mr. Figueiredo was born in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and was brought up in Carregal do Sal, Portugal. He lived in Lisbon, Portugal for many years before moving to New Bedford in 1953. He earned United States citizenship in 1961.

Mr. Figueiredo was a master tailor and during his career, he was employed by Sidney's Men's Clothing in New Bedford, Stonehaven Clothing in North Dartmouth, The Star Store in New Bedford and the Narragansett Clothing Company in Newport, R.I., from which he retired. He also had many personal customers in the New Bedford area for whom he enjoyed doing alterations.

In his leisure time he enjoyed traveling to Portugal, gardening and making clothes for his family.

Survivors include one son, Fernando Figueiredo of New Bedford; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Arrangements were by the Perry Funeral Home Inc., 111 Dartmouth St., New Bedford.

Margaret M. McCarthy

AVON, Conn. -- Margaret M. (Tripanier) McCarthy, 88, died Thursday, April 9, 1998 at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center. She was the widow of William McCarthy.

Born in New Bedford, she lived in Avon for 29 years and was a member of St. Ann Church.

She was formerly employed by Aetna Insurance as a clerk until retiring in 1972.

Survivors include a daughter, Kathleen Plourde of Avon, Conn.; three sisters, Rose Tavano, Kathleen Laronda and Dorothy Gober, all of New Bedford; and one grandchild.

She was the sister of the late Harry, Paul and Lawrence Tripanier.

Arrangements are by the Vincent Funeral Home, Canton, Conn.