NEW BEDFORD — Fern A. (Downing) Mendonca died Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008, at St. Luke's Hospital after a brief illness. She was surrounded by her family.
Born in Fairhaven, October 30, 1926, she was a lifelong resident of New Bedford and Dartmouth. Fern attended Perkins School for the Blind.
Divorced from Frank Mendonca, she was a homemaker as well as an avid reader. Active in local politics, she was always willing to help others in need.
Fern was a member of Grace Episcopal Church and the Catholic Guild for the Blind.
Daughters and son-in-law, Pamela Goes of South Dartmouth and Debra and Joseph Yates of Rochester; sister and brother-in-law, Joyce and Bruce Lawton of Westport survive her as well as grandchildren, Stephen and Harry Yates of Rochester; a niece; and several nephews.
Her service will be at 10 AM Saturday, Sept. 20, at Grace Episcopal Church Chapel, followed by burial at Peckham West Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to Perkins Library for talking and Braille books at www.Perkins.org.