Dorothy Jeanne Cabral
May 19, 2007
NEW BEDFORD – Dorothy Jeanne (Presner) Cabral, 81, of Whaler’s Cove Assisted Living, passed away peacefully in her sleep after a brief illness on Saturday, May 19, 2007. She was born in New Bedford, a daughter of the late Walter & Cordelia Larmarche ( Arruda) Presner.
Mrs. Cabral was a nurses aide at the Kristen Beth Nursing Home for over fifteen years before retiring at age 62. She resided in the Westlawn Projects for more than fifty-two years, until her recent illness, which left her weak and frail and unable to be on her own. She then went on to move into Whaler’s Cove Assisted Living. She was a lifelong New Bedford resident and a parishioner of Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church (formerly Sacred Heart).
Mrs. Cabral loved playing Bingo, taking occasional trip to Foxwoods, and watching the Boston Red Sox. She also enjoyed doing word search puzzles, making puzzles, knitting and crocheting, and reading a good romance novel. She also enjoyed visits from her two favorite pets, Mickey and Thor, Jr.
She will always be remembered as a person who kept to herself, and seldom asked anybody for help. Occasionally she would share how tough it had been struggling on her own to raise four children, but in the end she made sure her family knew how grateful she was to live the remainder of her life in a safe, comfortable environment, without a care in the world. She was the mother of four beautiful children. Her children were her life, and while she struggled as a single mother to make ends meet, she raised her children with respect and dignity. She taught them to hold their heads up high and never be ashamed of whom they were or from where they came, and that she never did! She asked for very little in life and was content to see her children and grandchildren accomplish more than she ever thought possible.
She is survived by two sons, Walter Cabral of Asbury Park, NJ, and Gilbert P. & his wife Dorothy Ferro Cabral of Acushnet; a daughter, Claire Pion & her husband Ronald of New Bedford; two sisters, Carol Furtado and Beverly Santos, both of New Bedford; eight grandchildren, Dorothy Jean Adams Belcher, Michelle Lee Adams, Jennifer Rose Cabral, Michael Pion of Taunton, Michael Medeiros of North Dartmouth, Christopher Pion of New Bedford, Samantha Wesoly of Tolland CT, and Lauren Cabral of Watertown; five great grandchildren, Joy Elizabeth Wesoly, Kayla Wesoly, Kalynne Jean Pion, Melody Rose Belcher, TeeTee Belcher; and also several nieces and nephews. She was the mother of the late Melody Medeiros and the sister of the late Walter Presner.
Funeral Information
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, May 25, 2007, at 11:00AM in Holy Name Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, 121 Mt. Pleasant St., New Bedford, with burial to follow in St. John Cemetery in New Bedford. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Calling hours and flowers will be omitted. All arrangements have been entrusted to the DONAGHY FUNERAL HOME, 465 County Street, New Bedford, MA. To LIGHT A CANDLE, SIGN THE MEMORIAL REGISTER, consult THE GRIEF LIBRARY, or obtain FACILITY DIRECTIONS, go to www.hathawayfunerals.com. or please telephone 508/992-5486.
Donations Information
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, c/o “Families Never Forget,” and sent to the attention of Team Member Dorothy Ferro Cabral, 11 Rene Street, Achusnet, MA 02743.