Vera Giusti, age 100, of South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, and Longboat Key, Florida, passed away peacefully at the Royal of Fairhaven on May 15, 2014. Born on January 19, 1914, in Leicester, England, to Albert and Agnes Ellen (Manchester) Brown, she lived in the greater New Bedford area for most of her life, spending the last 64 years at her home in Padanaram. Vera graduated from New Bedford High School, where she met the love of her life, Joseph Giusti. They were married on February 25, 1939, and enjoyed 73 years of marriage. Throughout their marriage, they were fortunate to travel extensively and enjoyed their many retirement years in Longboat Key, Florida.
Vera was a longtime member of the Congregational Church of South Dartmouth and the Longboat Island Chapel. She was a past member of the Wamsutta Club, Allendale Country Club and Longboat Key Club.
Family and friends were Vera’s love and joy. She was a gourmet cook and always enjoyed entertaining family and friends. She was an avid reader and bridge player and thoroughly enjoyed the game of golf. A talented and gifted person, she explored and mastered many different art mediums, perhaps her favorite being the art of cloisonné, for which she was frequently recognized by the Longboat Key Center for the Arts.
Vera was predeceased by her devoted husband, Joseph, in 2012, and her sister, Nora Brown Healy, in 2013. She is survived by her daughter, Catherine Giusti Potter and her husband William of Fairhaven, Massachusetts; her son, Paul A. Giusti and his wife Lisa of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; three granddaughters, Wendy Potter-da Silva of Fairhaven, Massachusetts; Linsay S. Daignault of New Bedford, Massachusetts; and Christina M. Giusti of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; a grandson, Theodore Matwijec of Boston, Massachusetts; and a great granddaughter, Sarina L. da Silva of Fairhaven, Massachusetts. She also leaves behind several nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank all of those who cared for her in recent years, especially the home care directed by Tammy Acim of Mass Caregivers of Dartmouth, Massachusetts, and the Royal of Fairhaven.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Salvation Army, 619 Purchase Street, New Bedford, MA 02740.
A memorial service will be held at the Congregational Church of South Dartmouth, 17 Middle Street, South Dartmouth on Monday, June 2, 2014, at 12 noon. A reception will follow in the church hall. Arrangements by the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.