Mae L. (Phelan) Bois, 63, a life-long resident of New Bedford, died on June 5, 2004 at home surrounded by her family and friends. She passed away after a courageous eight year battle with breast cancer.
Born in New Bedford on October 7, 1940 she was the daughter of the late John and Mary (Welch) Phelan.
On July 16, 1960, she married her soul mate, George Bois. Together they raised three children and were blessed by their families.
She was a graduate of New Bedford High School.
Mae drew very close friends from all walks of life who grew to become members of her family and were always welcomed in her home. Among the many friends she considered family were Lisa (Mello) Ames and her son Nathaniel, Tillie Pickering, Rita Santos, Barbara Davis, Doreen Benedetti, Carolyn Dwyer and Diana Henry.
Mae enjoyed everyday life and traveling with her husband. One of her greatest pleasures was shopping for and spending time with her five grandchildren. She had a kind and generous heart, always the comforter and giver to anyone in need, especially family and friends. Mae savored the good times and made the best of the difficult times. She lived by the saying "when one door closes, another one opens."
Mae had a successful business career while actively and attentively raising her three children. For the past 15 years, she and her son Andrew owned and operated an Irish Pub, Shenanigans in New Bedford's north end.
Survivors include her husband; 2 sons, William Bois, and his wife Miriam, of Bel Alton, MD and Andrew Bois, and his fiancé Teresa Timoteo, of New Bedford; a daughter, Michelle Hernandez, and her husband Robert, of Coral Gables, FL; a brother, William Phelan of New Bedford; 2 sisters, Ruby Golonski of Long Beach, CA and Alice Thurmer of Park Ridge, Ill; 5 grandchildren, Hayley, Cara, Bianca, Erica and Zachary.
She was the sister of the late Eugene Phelan.
Funeral from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New BedfordWednesday, June 9th at 9 AM.Funeral Mass at St. James Church at 10 AM.Relatives and friends are invited to attend.
Visiting hours Tuesday, June 8th from 4-8 PM.
Interment private.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Tina Henry Kasinger Transplant Fund, 78 Orchard St, New Bedford, MA 02740 or to Community Nurse & Hospice Care, P.O. Box 831, Fairhaven, MA 02719 or the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for Breast Cancer Research, 10 Brookline Place West, Brookline, MA 02445-7295.