Joseph F. Sylvia, Sr., 81, of New Bedford, passed away Tuesday, October 20, 2009, at St. Luke's Hospital after a long illness. He was the son of the late John and Idalina (Gonsalves) Sylvia, companion of the late Anna (Cambi) Medeiros and former husband of Constance (Roberts) Sylvia. He was born in Lakeville and lived in New Bedford for many years. He was a communicant of St. Joseph/St. Therese Church. He was formerly employed by the City of New Bedford in Maintenance, was a chauffeur for the late Mayor Harrington and also worked at Lincoln Downs. He was a Korean Army Veteran. Mr. Sylvia was a graduate of New Bedford High School 1949, a member of Madeira Club and Panther's Club. He was very active in City Politics, campaigning for many people running for Office. He was an avid Red Sox Fan, he managed the Madeira Club Little League and also umpired Little League games. He was a dedicated Grandfather. Survivors include one son Joseph F. Sylvia, Jr. and his wife Janice, five daughters, Elizabeth Carvalho and her companion William Mitchell, Linda Skellinger and her husband Bruce, June C. Pimental and her husband Arthur all of New Bedford, Robin Conchinha and her fiancé Peter Bevilacqua of Mattapoisett and Melissa Milligan and her husband Robert of No. Dartmouth; one brother Sylvester Sylvia of New Bedford, one sister Beatrice Johnson of Fairhaven, 14 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was the Grandfather of the late Joy Skellinger and brother of the late John Sylvia and Mary Mitchell. Visitation will be Friday evening 5-8 PM at Rock Funeral Home. Funeral from the Funeral Home on Saturday at 8 AM followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Joseph/St. Therese at 9 AM. Interment Pine Grove.

Frances (Mello) daSilva, 90, of New Bedford, died Monday, October 19, 2009, at St. Luke's Hospital after a brief illness. She was the widow of Manuel G. daSilva and daughter of the late Manuel C. and Frances (Frates) Mello. She was a lifelong New Bedford resident. Frances and her late husband founded the Boulevard Funeral Home in 1949. She was a devoted communicant of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church where she was a member of the Holy Rosary Sodality for many years. She was a member of the Panthers Golden Agers and the former Immaculate Conception Seniors. She was always known for her compassion, understanding and comforting words for the many families that they served. Survivors include her son, Michael J. daSilva and his wife, Michelle of New Bedford; her daughter, Louise Doucette and her husband, Al of Mattapoisett; her granddaughter, Sarah M. daSilva; her grandson, Andrew M. daSilva; her sister, Camille Correia of New Bedford; and several nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Mary Silva and Clarisse Correia. Her funeral Mass will be celebrated 9am Thursday at Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church. Visitation will be Wednesday 5-8pm. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Activities Fund at Our Lady's Haven, 71 Center St., Fairhaven, MA 02719. For directions and guest book please visit www.boulevardfh.com.

Natalie "Nat" (Park) Prefontaine, 85, of New Bedford died Monday October 19, 2009 at Hathaway Manor Extended Care Facility after a long illness. She was the wife of the late Louis "Fred" Prefontaine. Born and raised in New Bedford, she was the daughter of the late Kenneth C. and Madelin (Wyatt) Park. She was a graduate of New Bedford High School, Class of 1942, and also attended the Kinyon School. She was a member of Pilgrim United Church of Christ, and belonged to the Mother's Club at the church. Mrs. Prefontaine was formerly employed at Loring Studio on Spring St. for many years and cashiered at Keith Junior High School from 1965-1972. She also worked for Moby Dick Boy Scout Council as Business Manager, and at Camp Cachalot, Camp Noquochoke, and Camp Child with her husband for Old Colony Council. Mrs. Prefontaine was a member of Rainbow Assembly #3 and belonged to the Rainbow Majority Club since 1943. She and her late husband enjoyed camping in their motor home and belonged to the Cape Codders Camping Group for a number of years. She enjoyed crafts, and spending time her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The door was always open in her home to her family and many friends. Survivors include her two sons, Dennis R. Prefontaine and his wife Kathleen of Holliston, and Charles P. Prefontaine and his wife Nancy of Mattapoisett; two sisters, Rosamond Conn of New Bedford and Loretta Dillies of Westport; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Her Funeral Service will be held on Thursday at 10 AM at the Pilgrim United Church of Christ. Burial will follow in Rural Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Wednesday from 5-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Pilgrim United Church of Christ Music Fund, 635 Purchase St., New Bedford, MA 02740. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Louis H. Lemmertz, 71, died Thursday, October 15, 2009, at the Nemasket Health Care Center in Middleboro after a long battle with cancer. He was the husband of the late Margery H. (Thomas) Lemmertz. Born in Newell, Iowa, the son of the late Louis F. & Lucille (Marsh) Lemmertz, he moved to Massachusetts in 1958 residing in Wareham. Also a resident of Rochester for many years, he moved to Carver in 2002. He was employed as foreman for A.D. Makepeace Co. He is survived by his daughter, Linda Trinkaus of Plymouth; his son, Louis L. Lemmertz of New Bedford; his sister, Joyce Harnisch of Sumner, IA; three grandchildren, Rebecca Trinkaus of Plymouth, Steffany Lemmertz and Tiffany Lemmertz, both of Wareham. His funeral will be held on Mon., Oct. 19th at the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Highway (Rt. 28), Wareham at 10:00 AM. Interment will be in Central Cemetery, Carver. Visiting hours will be Sunday from 4 — 7 PM. Donations in his memory may be made to Whittier Rehab. Hospital Volunteer Association, 314 Marion Rd., Middleboro, MA 02346. For directions and on-line guestbook visit: www.ccgfuneralhome.com

HOWLAND, Margaret "Peggy" Clarke Of Westwood and Marion, MA, died on October 12, 2009, at age 92, after a brief illness. It would take a book of many volumes to do justice to Mrs. Howland's rich and long life that was dedicated to family and charity. In the public sphere, Mrs. Howland was an untiring volunteer whose charity work spanned many decades and was motivated by a deeply felt spirituality. Beginning in the 1950s, Mrs. Howland began volunteering for the Home for Little Wanderers, a non-profit that advocates for at-risk children. By 1966, she was on the Home's Board of Managers. For over thirty years she worked for the Home at the Thrift Shop of Boston. In 1983, she was awarded the Home's Volunteer of the Year Award. In 1970, Mrs. Howland and her husband, George, moved from Needham, MA to Boston's Beacon Hill neighborhood where she resided until 2006. She was involved for many years with the Beacon Hill Circle for Charity, a charitable fundraising organization. Mrs. Howland also served on the Board of Directors of the Women's Educational and Industrial Union. She volunteered for over 30 years in the Union's Companions Unlimited program, visiting the blind. Just 2 weeks ago she helped one of her "companions" celebrate her 101st birthday. In 1990, Mrs. Howland became a lay chaplain at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital. She was honored as the Brigham's Volunteer of the Year in 1998. In the private sphere, Mrs. Howland was a devoted wife_her husband predeceased her in 1983_a loving mother to four children, a doting grandmother to eleven grandchildren and an effusive great-grandmother to sixteen great-grandchildren. She was very close to her six brothers and sisters and regularly visited her birthplace of Utica, New York that her siblings called home. She was known for her sunny, upbeat outlook on life, her numerous acts of individual kindness and her determination. It was characteristic that she suffered the stroke that took her life on the way to her exercise class. A devout Roman Catholic, she firmly embraced the reforms of Vatican II with its emphasis on ecumenism and serving the poor. She also knew how to have a good time. She played the piano, attended the Boston Symphony Orchestra, enjoyed Contract Bridge, loved dogs and threw one heck of a good party. She is survived by her sister, Mrs. Catherine Cardamone of Clinton, New York, her children and their spouses_Mary and David Smoyer of Boston, Margaret B. Howland of Marion, MA, Edward and MariannaHowlandof Sherborn, MA, and George Howland, Jr. and Jody SegalofSeattle, WA _ and the aforementioned grandchildren andgreat-grandchildren. A Funeral Mass will be held on Monday October 19 at 11A.M. in the St. Margaret Mary Church, 845 High Street, Westwood, MA. 781-326-8005. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Mrs. Howland's memory to The Home for Little Wanderers, 271 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115or The George Howland Scholarship Fund, St. George's School, P.O. Box 1910, Newport, RI02840.

John P. Grantham, Jr., 73, died Monday, October 12, 2009 at his home in Wareham. He was the husband of Priscilla A. (Ross) Grantham. Born in Boston, the son of the late Helen (Short) and John P. Grantham, Sr., he was a previous resident of Sharon and Canton before moving to Wareham many years ago. Mr. Grantham was employed as a carpenter in the Wareham area for many years. After retiring he owned and operated his own landscaping business. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard serving from 1957 to 1961. He was an avid gardener and loved animals; especially his own "newfie" Jake. He was a social being and spent numerous time socializing with friends throughout the area. He also enjoyed spending his Sunday afternoons watching the Patriots. He is survived by his wife; his daughter, Julie A. Grantham of Marion; his son, John P. Grantham, III of Wareham; three grandchildren, Jennifer and Jessica Shadrick and Valerie Grantham. He was predeceased by his sister, the late Barbara Smith. A funeral service will be held on Fri., Oct. 16th at the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Highway (Rt. 28), Wareham at 10 AM. Interment will be in the Mass. National Cemetery, Bourne. Visiting hours will be Thurs. from 5 – 8 PM. Donations in his memory may be made to Southcoast Hospice, 200 Mill Rd., Fairhaven, MA 02719.

Mildred Louise Wheeler Flanders, age 91, longtime resident of Menemsha, fell asleep in death on Monday, October 12, 2009 while a resident of Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Mildred was born on October 10, 1918 to Millard and Hattie Wheeler of New Bedford. In 1940 she graduated from Bridgewater State Teacher’s College. After graduation she started teaching in the Menemsha School and was its principal. She went on to teach in the New Bedford, Fairhaven and Mattapoisett School Systems. During Mildred’s time in Menemsha she met her future husband, Robert N. Flanders Jr. a local fisherman and carpenter. They were married on August 8, 1941 and after her husband came home from WWII they established a home in Mattapoisett. Their family grew first two boys, then a girl and then two more boys. They moved back to Menemsha in 1969, where they could both share their love of the sea. They were married for over 66 years until Bob’s passing in February 2008. Mildred was a woman of strong faith and one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She regularly attended meetings at the Kingdom Hall and could be often seen going from door-to-door proclaiming a message of comfort and hope for the future that she found in the Bible. Mildred is survived by her four sons, one daughter and their spouses. Laurence & Lynn of Linville, VA; Robert & Anna of Dillon, SC; Luisann & Frederick Bollin of Vineyard Haven; Frank & Vivian of West Tisbury, MA; Carl & Sherry of Menemsha, MA. She also leaves 16 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. The memorial service for Mildred will be held on October 17, 2009 at 2:00pm at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, State Road, West Tisbury.

Ray E. Tuttle, 58, of Wareham died peacefully on Sunday October 11, 2009 at Forestview Nursing Home surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Maryann (Palm) Tuttle. Born and raised in Mattapoisett, the son of the late M. Duane and Irene S. (Austin) Tuttle, he lived in Wareham for the past 25 years. Mr. Tuttle was formerly employed as a lead technician for the Polaroid Corporation in New Bedford. He was a graduate of Old Rochester Regional High School, where he was an outstanding football player. He later played football for the Middleboro Cobras. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Amanda L. Tuttle and Carissa I. Tuttle, both of Wareham; two sisters, Marjorie J. Dumas of Mattapoisett and Kathryn L. Reilly of Wareham; and several nieces and nephews. His Funeral Service will be held on Friday at 10 AM at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. Burial will follow in Cushing Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Thursday from 4-8 PM. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 330 Congress St., 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02210. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Helen P. (Mello) Morey, 89, of New Bedford, died Wednesday, October 7, 2009, at St. Luke's Hospital. She was the beloved wife of Francis C. Morey; they were married 61 years. Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Manuel M. and Mary P. (Medeiros) Mello, she was a lifelong city resident. She was a homemaker. Mrs. Morey was a communicant of St. Mary's Church of New Bedford. She was a member of Yesteryear's Doll Club of Sandwich. She enjoyed gardening and loved spending time with her grandchildren. Survivors include her husband; a son, David F. Morey and his wife, Cheryl of Mattapoisett; a daughter, Susan J. Dias and her husband, John of Dartmouth; 4 grandchildren, Gregory Margis, Charles Margis and his wife, Nicole, Christopher Morey, and Elizabeth Morey. A calling hour will be from 7 A.M. to 8 A.M. Friday, with a funeral at 8 A.M., from the Machnowski - Schick Funeral Home, 472 Ashley Boulevard, New Bedford. Her Funeral Mass will be at 9 A.M., in St. Mary's Church, followed by burial in Pine Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mrs. Morey's memory may be made to Southcoast Hospice and Palliative Care, 200 Mill Rd., Fairhaven, MA 02719.

Karen M. (Mevis) LeBlanc, 68, of Mattapoisett died Wednesday October 7, 2009 at St. Luke's Hospital after a brief illness. Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Frederick and Helen (Brown) Mevis, she lived in Mattapoisett for many years. Mrs. LeBlanc was formerly employed as a registered nurse at St. Luke's Hospital in the Utilization Review Department. She was a graduate of New Bedford High School and St. Luke's Hospital School of Nursing. She enjoyed spending time with her friends and adored her two sons. She is survived by her sons, Kurt R. LeBlanc of New Bedford and Gary M. LeBlanc and his wife Virginia Curley of Norwalk, CT; and two stepgrandchildren, John and James Curley. She was the sister of the late Jean H. Mevis. Her Funeral Service will be held on Saturday at 4 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. Visiting hours will be on Saturday from 1-4 PM prior to the service. Private burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, New Bedford. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.