Dorothy Rita Carreiro

Dorothy R. Carreiro (94) of Ithaca NY died peacefully on Sunday, September, 15th, 2019 at the Hospicare residence in Ithaca NY surrounded by her loving family.  Dorothy was born in Dorchester, MA on December 28th, 1924 to Dora M. Gauthier and Armand D. Bellefleur. Dorothy graduated from Newton High School in Newton, MA in 1942 and from Massachusetts College of Art in 1946. She married Joseph A. Carreiro in 1947 and raised a family of seven children. She lived in Philadelphia, PA for a number of years, and moved to Ithaca, NY in 1965. She maintained her strong connection to the Boston and Cape Cod areas throughout her life.

Dorothy was an artist and an accomplished pianist, and taught piano for many years. She studied with Ms. Ecker in Boston and Trudy Borden in Ithaca, and performed at the CMSA with Ms. Borden’s adult class. She enjoyed travel, gardening and birding. Over the years, Dorothy enjoyed visiting Russia, Ireland, Scotland, Portugal, Spain, Africa, Mexico and South America. She was an avid reader and spent many years writing her memoir. She was a member of the Cornell Catholic Community, the Cornell Music Club and the West Hill Neighborhood Association. She taught English as a second language through Literacy Volunteers for many years and she valued being a lifelong learner.

Everyone that met Dorothy loved her because of her wonderful sense of humor, openness, and caring demeanor. Her loving and accepting heart made her a surrogate mother to many. Her door was always open and there was always room at her table for one more.

Her husband, Joseph A. Carreiro, Chairman of the Department of Design and Environmental Analysis at Cornell, died in 1978, and her six siblings predeceased her as well; Agnes F. Moody, Cecelia D. Milano, Loretta M. Droney, David A. Bellefleur, Richard Bellefleur, and a sibling who died at birth. Dorothy also had a son, Jonathan A. Carreiro, who died shortly after birth. All seven of her remaining children survive her; Joel S. Carreiro, Christine M. Carreiro (William Reed), Donald J. Carreiro (Sondra Adams), Anthony D. Carreiro (Kathleen Meredith), Suzanne C. Carreiro (Scott Daigler), Michele A. Carreiro (Stephen Canestaro), Amanda J. Carreiro. She has eight grandchildren; Anne Checchia, Lucas Colbert Carreiro, Lily Colbert Carreiro, Remy Carreiro, Ava Carreiro, Joseph Merryfield, Ethan Merryfield, and Julien Carreiro. Liza Angell Quintana, Amanda Angell Whitehead and Ava S. Angell were like family to her. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

We will love and miss her forever.

Calling hours will be at Bangs Funeral home on Thursday, September 26th from 4:00 - 6:00 pm. There will be a service in her memory on Friday, September 27th at 10:00 am at Immaculate Conception Church. Burial will be at Lakeview Cemetery in Ithaca following the service.

The family wishes to thank Joyce Muchan and Danielle Kisloski, and the staff at Longview and Hospicare for their loving care. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her memory to Hospicare, Heifer International, or the Fresh Air Fund, all organizations that were close to Dorothy’s heart.

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