ObituariesRaymond A. Briggs
MARION -- Raymond A. Briggs, 58, of Marion and formerly of Middleboro, died Tuesday, October 28, 1997, at Sippican Long Term Health Care after a lengthy illness. He was the husband of Barbara (Massey) Briggs and the son of Celia (Souza) Briggs of Falmouth and the late Edney Briggs.
Mr. Briggs was born in Fall River.
He served in the United States Army and was a blacksmith who had worked along most of the east coast from New Bedford to Florida. He was a member of the National Rifle Association and had a collection of guns.
Survivors include his wife; his mother; and two daughters, Lauren Briggs and Ashley Briggs, both of Middleboro.
Arrangements are by the Ashley Funeral Home, 35 Oak St., Middleboro.
Lois I. (Seymour) Baker
FALL RIVER -- Lois I. (Seymour) Baker, 69, died unexpectedly Wednesday, Oct. 29, 1997. She was the widow of John A. Baker Sr.
Born in Blakely, Penn., a daughter of the late Rev. Floyd and Lillie (Bright) Seymour, she spent her youth in Tiverton, R.I., and Methuen before moving to Fall River in the early 1940s.
She was a graduate of BMC Durfee High School, class of 1947, and was employed as a nursing assistant for more than 30 years at the Hanover House and various other nursing homes in the Fall River area before retiring in 1991.
She was a member of the First Primitive Methodist Church in Tiverton and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star of Fall River.
Survivors include a daughter, Dawn M. Miville, of Fall River; two sons, Kenneth W. Baker of East Freetown and John A. Baker III of Fall River; one sister, Melva McIwaine of Millersville, Penn.; one brother, William Seymour of Medford; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Arrangements are by the "Cherry Place" Home of Waring-Ashton & Coughlin-Sullivan-Driscoll, 178 Winter St.
A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in the First Primitive Methodist Church, 198 Main Road, Tiverton, R.I.
Francis H. Walsh Jr.
BETHLEHEM, Penn. -- Francis H. Walsh Jr., 80, formerly of New Bedford, died at home Friday, Oct. 24, 1997. He was the widower of M. Geraldine (Girouard) Walsh and son of the late Francis H. and Mary Elizabeth (Shea) Walsh.
Born in New Bedford, Mr. Walsh lived most of his life in Bethlehem. He received a degree in textile engineering from New Bedford Textile School and a chemical engineering degree from North Carolina State University at Raleigh.
He was a communicant of St. Anne's Church in Bethlehem and was active in the parish activities, including its Christmas pageants. He was technical director in producing the passion play, "Behold the Man of Bethlehem."
Mr. Walsh worked at Bethlehem Steel for more than 40 years, retiring in the early 1980s.
He started in the Number 3 forge treatment shop in 1940 and served as general foreman of every mill in the Saucon Division before his promotion to division superintendent of mills, soaking pits and the roll shop. He helped design and install the combination mill, where he developed new products.
Mr. Walsh later was appointed special engineer on the general managers staff, where he researched new production technologies in Europe and Japan. He implemented modernization projects at the 48-inch mill.
After his retirement, he was chairman of the planning commission for the city of Bethlehem and executive director of the Lehigh Valley Solid Waste Authority. He was a member of the Newman Foundation at Lehigh University and the Knights of Columbus.
Mr. Walsh traveled extensively with family and friends and enjoyed telling stories of his overseas adventures. He had especially fond memories of Ireland, the land of his forebears.
Survivors include three sons, Francis H. Walsh III of Lynnfield; Peter M. Walsh of South Windsor, Conn., and David J. Walsh of Bethlehem; a daughter, Jane W. Barnhart of Bellingham; a sister, Helen Walsh of New Bedford; and four grandchildren.
He was the brother of the late Elizabeth Hodgkinson.
His funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Sunday at St. Joseph's Church, Fairhaven.
Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford.
Aurore H. Rocheleau
FALL RIVER -- Aurore H. (Petit) Rocheleau, 84, of Highland Avenue, died Wednesday, Oct. 29, 1997, at Charlton Memorial Hospital. She was the widow of Albert Rocheleau and daughter of the late Theodore and Celima (Beaudry) Petit.
Mrs. Rocheleau was born in Westport, but lived in Fall River most of her life. She was a communicant of Notre Dame Church, Flint Village.
Survivors include a daughter, Constance Furtado of Fall River; three sons, Gerard E. Rocheleau of Wesport, Ronald A. Rocheleau of Northbridge, and Albert R. Rocheleau Jr. of Orlando, Fla.; a sister, Edna Chabot of Fall River; 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Notre Dame Church in Fall River.
Arrangements are by the Hathaway Home for Funerals, 1813 Robeson St.
James Ryle, 81
NEW BEDFORD -- James Ryle of Fairhaven died unexpectedly Tuesday, Oct. 28, 1997, at St. Luke's Hospital. He was 81.
Mr. Ryle was the husband of Muriel (Whitehead) Ryle, to whom he was married for 57 years. He was the son of the late Arthur and Sarah (Bradbury) Ryle.
He was born in Hyde Chesire, England, and had lived in Fairhaven for 74 years.
Mr. Ryle was employed as a machinist for Bradley-Halewell in New Bedford for many years until retiring 19 years ago.
A WWII Army veteran, Mr. Ryle was a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Fairhaven.
Mr. Ryle was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Fort Phoenix Post 2892; the past master of the Star of the East, Paskamensett; the Scottish Rite of Masons; past patron of the Order of the Eastern Star, Dartmouth chapter, and a member of the Agawam Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star.
Survivors include his widow; a son, Richard Ryle of Fairhaven; two daughters, Ruth Ann Perry and Jane Bettencourt of Fairhaven; a sister, Mary Walmsley of Fairhaven; a brother, Arthur Ryle Jr. of Fairhaven; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and two nephews and two nieces.
Mr. Ryle was also the brother of the late Wilfred Ryle.
A funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Church of the Good Shepherd.
Arrangements are by the Fairhaven Funeral Home, 117 Main St., Fairhaven.
Hortense Mabel Sohles
DUXBURY -- Hortense Mabel (Heebner) Sohles, 86, a longtime resident of South Dartmouth and Greenfield, died Friday, Oct. 10, 1997. Known to her many friends as "Billie," she was the wife of Leroy P. Sohles of Sun City Center, Fla.
Mrs. Sohles was born in Millinocket, Maine.
She served on the board of directors for the New Bedford YMCA, the United Cerebral Palsy Association and the American Red Cross. She was a trustee of the United Church of Christ, formerly the Congregational Church of South Dartmouth.
She was also a president of the Dartmouth League of Women Voters, vice president of the United Church Women of Greater New Bedford, a member of the Dartmouth School Building Committee, the Red Cross chairwoman of the Office of Volunteers, and also held leadership roles in Scouting and the 4-H Club.
After raising her family, she prepared for a teaching career at Bridgewater State College and subsequently taught in Dartmouth and Westport Schools. She took delight in community theater, gardening and many forms of hand craft.
Mrs. Sohles is survived by her widower; a daughter, Patricia Winkelmayer of Ocean Pines, Md.; a son, Stephen G. Sohles of Marshfield; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
She was buried at the Fairmount Cemetery in Lee.
Olga Gela, 87
NEW BEDFORD -- Olga Gela, 87, of South Dartmouth, died Tuesday, Oct. 28, 1997, at St. Luke's Hospital.
Born in Passaic, N.J., she was the daughter of the late Andrew and Barbara (Bakowska) Gela.
She was an insurance adjuster for the home insurance industry.
In her younger years, she also performed as part of the "Rockettes," a New York city chorus line.
Survivors include a brother, Dr. Theodore Gela of South Dartmouth; a sister, Vera Naosi of New York; and two nieces, Elise Gela and Vivian Gela of South Dartmouth.
A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. today at the South Dartmouth Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Perry Funeral Home, 111 Dartmouth St.
Sandra Geagon Rutkowski
FALL RIVER -- Sandra (Sullivan) Geagon Rutkowski, 53, died Sunday, Oct. 26, 1997, at Rose Hawthorne Lathrop Home. She was the widow of Arthur "Artie" Geagon and daughter of the late Edward and Mary (Mackey) Sullivan.
Born in Fall River, Mrs. Rutkowski was a graduate of Somerset High School, and had lived in Somerset and Swansea, as well as Fall River.
Survivors include three sons, Scott, Christopher, and Timothy Geagon, all of Fall River; two daughters, Melissa Harrington of Seekonk, and Kerri Rutkowski of Fall River; a brother, Kevin Sullivan of Somerset; three grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Rutkowski was the sister of the late William Sullivan.
A memorial Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in the chapel of Notre Dame Church, Eastern Avenue, Fall River.
Arrangements are by the Auclair Funeral Home, 690 S. Main St.
Loretta Desrosiers Bussiere
WILMINGTON, N.C. -- Loretta Desrosiers Bussiere, 61, formerly of New Bedford, died Sunday, Oct. 26, 1997, at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. She was the daughter of the late William Desrosiers and Albina Fournier.
Born in New Bedford, she was an inspector at Isotronics until her retirement.
Survivors include two daughters, Donna Jackson of Currie and Deborah Pelletier of Wilmington; two sons, Dennis Bussiere of Rochester and Robert Bussiere of Johnston, R.I.; and nine grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the graveside in Greenlawn Memorial Park.
Arrangements are by Coble Ward-Smith Funeral Service, Oleander Chapel, which is also handling the arrangements.
Mrs. Bussiere's sons were incorrectly identified as her brothers in Wednesday's obituary.
Chester J. Nietupski
NEW BEDFORD -- Chester J. Nietupski, 84, died Tuesday, Oct. 28, 1997, at St. Luke's Hospital after a brief illness. He was the widower of Rose (Cusson) Nietupski, and son of the late Frank and Frances (Lis) Nietupski.
Born in New Bedford, he lived in this area for most of his life. He was employed by the Continental Screw Co. as a production manager until his retirement.
A communicant of St. Hedwig's Church, he was a recipient of the Marian Medal and a former delivery volunteer with the Meals on Wheels program.
A World War II Army veteran, he was a recipient of the Purple Heart.
Survivors include a niece, Barbara Ledoux of Somerset.
A funeral Mass will be at 9 a.m. Friday at St. Hedwig's Church.
Arrangements are by the Latham Funeral Home, 823 Brock Ave.
Dorilla Bacon, 108
FALL RIVER -- Dorilla (Lariviere) Bacon, 108, died at home Wednesday, Oct. 29, 1997. She was the widow of Edgar Bacon and daughter of the late Phillipe and Hermina (Provencal) Lariviere.
Born in St. Brigide d'Iberville, Canada, she was a resident of Fall River for the last 106 years. She was a communicant of the former St. Mathieu church and after it closed, was a communicant of St. Thomas More church. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include four daughters, Annette Patry and Lucille Pratt of Fall River, and Gertrude Gaudreau and Pauline Messier of Somerset; two sisters, Blanche Paquin of Warren, R.I., and Annette Corriveau of Fall River; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She was also the sister of the late Rt. Rev. Msgr. Leonidas Lariviere, Esma Lecomte and Cora Giroux.
A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Thomas More Church on Luther Avenue in Somerset.
Arrangements are by the Rose. E. Sullivan Funeral Home, 866 County St., Somerset.
Louis R. Wexler, 93
FAIRHAVEN -- Funeral services were held last week for Louise R. (Sottak) Wexler, 93, formerly of Acushnet, who died Sunday, Oct. 19, 1997, at the Alden Court Nursing Care and Rehabilitation Center in North Fairhaven. She was the widow of Paul Wexler Sr., who died in 1973.
Born in Freetown, daughter of the late Julius and Catherine E. (Rencsik) Sottak, Mrs. Wexler had lived all of her life in this area.
She was a communicant of St. Francis Xavier Church in Acushnet prior to entering the nursing home.
A graduate of New Bedford High School, Mrs. Wexler was employed as officer manager at Camp Edwards. She was an avid gardener.
Survivors include nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Wexler was the mother of the late Paul Wexler Jr. and sister of the late Julia Nemeth, Catherine Higgenbottham, Mary Hemmann and Julius, Edward and Paul Sottak.
A funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Mary Church in North Fairhaven on Thursday, Oct. 23, 1997.
Arrangements were by the Donaghy Funeral Home, 465 County St., New Bedford.
The name of a deceased sister, Mrs. Hemmann, was omitted when this obituary originally ran in the newspaper on Oct. 21, 1997.
Icilma Bayne
BOSTON -- Icilma Bayne, 72, of New Bedford, died Tuesday, Oct. 28, 1997, at Brigham & Women's Hospital after a brief illness. She was the wife of the Rev. Stanley Bayne and daughter of Irene Brathwaite of Barbados and the late Gladstone Brathwaite.
She was born in Barbados and lived there most of her life before moving to New Bedford 28 years ago. She was a member of the First Church of the Nazerene.
Mrs. Bayne was formerly employed as a teacher's aide at the Gomes School for many years prior to her retirement.
She was an avid gardener.
Survivors include her mother; her widower; a son, Karle Chase of New Bedford; two daughters, Andria Bayne of Quincy and Carmen Yearwood of New Bedford; two brothers, Calvin Brathwaite of Hartford, Conn., and Neville Brathwaite of Barbados; a sister, Anita Brathwaite of Trinidad; an aunt, Margery "Ruby" Dottin of New Bedford; 7 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and many friends.
Her funeral service will be at 9 a.m. Saturday at the First Church of the Nazerene, 764 Hathaway Road, New Bedford. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford.
Philip J. Zeimetz
MATTAPOISETT -- Philip J. Zeimetz, 75, died Monday, Oct. 27, 1997, at his home after a brief illness. He was the husband of Ester V. (Peterson) Zeimetz, to whom he was married for 49 years.
Born in Malden, he was the son of the late Philip J. and Pauline (Streck) Zeimetz.
Mr. Zeimetz lived in North Reading for 42 years and in Mattapoisett for the past five years. He was a maintenance supervisor for the Otis Elevator Co., a branch of United Technologies, for 40 years, retiring in 1987.
He was a WWII Navy veteran who served in the Seabees, where he received the WWII Victory Medal, the American Theatre Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Medal.
Mr. Zeimetz was an active, former member of the North Reading Congregational Church, served on the Board of Appeals in North Reading and was a former Cub Scout Leader.
He was also a member and served on the Board of Trustees of the Mattapoisett Congregational Church, was past president of the Sippican Choral Society and worked with the Mattapoisett Town Library Trustees.
He also was a singer with the Center School Intergenerational Chorus of Mattapoisett and assisted with the taping of the Mattapoisett Selectmen meetings, aired on the local cable channel.
Survivors include two sons, Anthony J. Zeimetz of Andover; Steven P. Zeimetz of Rochester, N.H.; two daughters, Victoria Rauseo of Andover and Cheryl Zeimetz of Winchendon; nine grandchildren, an uncle, Albert Streck, 100, of Lynn; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Mattapoisett Congregational Church, 27 Church St.
A second memorial service will be Saturday, Nov. 8, 1997, in the Union Congregational Church, 148 Haver Hill St., North Reading.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Fairlawn Mortuary, 180 Washington St., Fairhaven.
Gilbert Mello, 85
NEW BEDFORD -- Gilbert "DeMello" Mello, 85, of Dartmouth died Wednesday, Oct. 29, 1997, at the Jewish Convalescent Home. He was the widower of Laura (Santos) Mello.
Mr. Mello was born in New Bedford, the son of the late Gilbert DeMello and Maria (Gloria Caboze) DeMello.
He was a cutter at Acushnet Process.
An Army veteran of World War II, Mr. Mello was a communicant of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. He was the former treasurer of Mount Carmel Seniors and was a member of the Legion of Mary.
Survivors include a son, Gilbert DeMello Jr. of Dartmouth; a daughter, Kathleen Wilder of Bellingham; and several nieces and nephews.
Mr. Mello was the brother of the late Manuel DeMello, Frank DeMello, Joseph DeMello, Almorinda Botelho, Emily Botelho, Adeline Amaral and Sister Fidelis.
A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.
Arrangements are by Perry Funeral Home, Dartmouth Street.
Katherine S. DiPasqua
WAREHAM -- Katherine Shirley DiPasqua, 81, of Chestnut Street, died Monday, Oct. 27, 1997, at Forestview Nursing Home after a period of failing health. She was the wife of Ferdinand John DiPasqua and daughter of the late Gardner R. Mandeville and Doris K. Keene.
Born in Brockton, she lived in that city before moving to Wareham, where she and her husband previously had a summer home.
She was employed as a clinical chemist for 12 years until her retirement.
Mrs. DiPasqua attended Brockton High School and was a graduate of Drew Seminary, N.Y., class of 1934. After graduation, she attended Columbia Presbyterian Nursing School in New York City; she graduated from Northeastern University in Boston in 1966 as a medical technologist.
She was a communicant of St. Patrick's Church and was a member of the Tobey Hospital Guild.
Survivors include her widower; two sons, Vincent DiPasqua and Andrew DiPasqua of Wareham; a daughter, Doris E. "DeeDee" Leary of West Virginia; a brother, Gardner Mandeville of Florida; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
She was also the sister of the late Gordon Mandeville.
A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick's Church, 90 High St.
Arrangements are by the J. Frank Conley Funeral Home, 138 Belmont St., Brockton.
Mrs. DiPasqua's photo was omitted in Wednesday's obituary.
Rita D. Fortin
FALL RIVER -- Rita D. Fortin, 80, of Cypress Street died Wednesday, Oct. 29, 1997, at the Sarah Brayton Skilled Nursing Center. She was the widow of Ovila Fortin and the daughter of the late John T. and Annie (Hadfield) Shea.
A lifelong Fall River resident, she was a supervisor in the central supply department of St. Anne's Hospital for more than 15 years until retiring in 1980.
She was a 1934 graduate of BMC Durfee High School and was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church.
Survivors include a son, Paul E. Fortin of Fall River; two daughters, Anne M. Duphily of Dartmouth and Mary E. Fortin of Fall River; a brother, Thomas E. Shea of Fall River; six grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews.
She was the sister of the late Mary W. Shea and John J. Shea.
A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Church, Linden Street.
Arrangements are by the Cherry Place Home of Waring-Ashton & Coughlin, D.D. Sullivan-Driscoll, 178 Winter St.
George A. Froment
FALL RIVER -- George A. Froment, 70, of North Main Street, died Monday, Oct. 27, 1997. He was the husband of Dorothy (DeMattos) Froment and son of the late Emile Froment and Yvonne (Berube) Froment.
Mr. Froment was born in Fall River.
He was employed by Aetna Life and Casualty Insurance Co. as a supply supervisor.
Mr. Froment was actively associated with the Association for Retarded Citizens of Greater Fall River.
Survivors include his widow; a son, David W. Froment of Norwood; a brother, Joseph Wilfred Froment of Fall River; two granddaughters; and nieces and nephews.
He was the brother of the late Norman Froment.
Arrangements are by the Boule Funeral Home, 615 Broadway.
Angelina Carvalho
SOMERSET -- Angelina "Angie" (Amaral) Carvalho, 60, of Duke Street, formerly of Main Street, died unexpectedly Monday, Oct. 27, 1997. She was the wife of Richard J. Carvalho Sr. and daughter of the late Antone Amaral and Mary-Isabel (Duarte) Amaral-Furtado.
Born in Fall River, she lived in Somerset most her life.
Mrs. Carvalho was a communicant of St. Patrick's Church in Somerset, a C.C.D. teacher, a marriage encounters counselor and in the women's guild in St. Patrick's Church. She was also an active volunteer for the Holy Ghost at St. John of God Church.
Survivors include her widower; two sons, George Carvalho and Richard "Rick" Carvalho Jr., both of Somerset; two daughters, Ann Marie Carvalho and Robin McGee, both of Somerset; a brother, George Amaral of Fall River; three sisters, Rose Marie Seibert of Somerset, Veronica L. Silvia of East Providence, R.I. and Mary Arruda of Fall River; three step-brothers, Amancio Furtado of Baltimore, Md., Albert Furtado of Fall River and Teo Furtado of San Francisco, Calif.; three step-sisters, Fatima Rezendes and Dovalina Larve, both of Fall River and Olga Tavares of Swansea; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.
She was the mother of the late Steven Carvalho and sister of the late Antone Amaral.
A funeral Mass will be held at 9 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick's Church, South Street.
Arrangements are by the Oliveira Funeral Home, 2064 So. Main St. Fall River.
Maurice A. Parkonen
WAREHAM -- Maurice A. Parkonen, 74, of Carver Road, West Wareham, died unexpectedly at home on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 1997. He was the husband of Mary (Rounds) Parkonen and the son of the late Matti and Alma (Huhtanen) Parkkonen.
Born in Middleboro, he had lived in Wareham for the past 50 years. For 40 years, he was a union carpenter, working on bridges and power plants, prior to retiring in 1990.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army and earned military decorations including the American Campaign Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
He was a member of the Benjamin D. Cushing Post 2425 of Marion.
Survivors include his widow; a son, Maurice A. Parkonen Jr. of Wareham; a daughter, Dianne (Alley) Pierce of Wareham; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Arrqangements are by the Stott, Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Highway.
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