Rose Wiles Oliveira

Rose Wiles Oliveira, 79 of New Bedford, MA passed peacefully on Saturday April 17th, 2010. Mrs. Oliveira was the daughter of Irene (Connor) and Douglas Wiles. She was the devoted wife and widower of Edwin S. Oliveira, U.S. Navy Retired. Born November 6th, 1930, Rose was a lifelong resident of the area and spent much of her personal and professional life serving the community. A dedicated volunteer throughout her life, she was involved with a number of parent-teacher organizations, and as President of the city-wide PTA helped research and present the proposals for the current New Bedford High School to the New Bedford School Committee in 1965. From 1968 to 1970 she was part of the West Central Council Onboard where she eventually was elected President of its citywide organization, Additionally, she was a member of the Greater New Bedford Democratic Club, of which she served as President from 1973-1976.
Mrs. Oliveira was a City of New Bedford retiree; First working three years as the coordinator of the North End Senior Center, she was subsequently appointed Executive Director of the New Bedford Council on Aging in 1986 under the administration of Mayor John K. Bullard. After retiring in 1993, she volunteered with the New Bedford Women’s Center, opening her home as a safe-house. Into the early 2000’s she continued to share her expertise in Elder Affairs as a Community Advisory Board Member at the Ora M. DeJesus Gerontology Center of UMass Dartmouth. Rose was also an avid fan of the Red Sox, Celtics and Patriots, known for her infamous phone calls after lost games and total excitement over celebrating their respective championships.
Rose will be remembered for her sharp wit and outgoing personality, as well as her ongoing concern for those in need. She is survived by three sons, James D. and his wife Julie Oliveira, Steven T. and his wife Ellen Oliveira both of New Bedford and Douglas E. and his wife Denise Oliveira of Norwood, MA; two daughters Nora Jean and her husband Robert Kennedy of Raleigh, NC. and Patricia Morad-Desrosiers and her husband Thomas of Hollywood, FL: two nieces, Kathleen Chase Rodriguez and Margo Chase Wells of CT.; eight grandchildren; Jason, Nicole, Laurie, Matthew, John, Craig, Lilly, and Theodore and two great-grandchildren: David and Kaia. Her childhood best friends, Lorraine Constant and Muriel Coderre, will also dearly miss Rose.

Mrs. Oliveira’s funeral will be from Perry Funeral Home 111 Dartmouth St. Wednesday at 9 A.M. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St Lawrence Martyr Church at 10 A.M. Burial will follow at St. Mary Cemetery. Visiting hours are Tuesday from 5-8 P.M.