Deborah J. (Andrews) Houle, 64, of New Bedford passed away Sunday August 4, 2019 at St. Luke's Hospital after a long illness. She was the wife of Donald L. Houle.
Born in Acushnet, the daughter of Rita T. (Frenette) Andrews and the late Edwin L. Andrews, Jr., she lived in New Bedford all of her life.
Mrs. Houle was employed as a special needs paraprofessional at the Spencer Borden Elementary School in Fall River. She had previously worked as a school teacher at Mount St. Joseph School in Fall River and as a bookkeeper at the New Bedford Pharmacy for many years. She also worked part-time at Market Basket in New Bedford for several years.
She was a graduate of Holy Family High School and Bridgewater State University. She was an active parishioner of Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, where she was President of the Ladies Guild, member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and chairperson of the annual church bazaar. In her spare time, she enjoyed knitting, reading, gardening, and cooking.
In addition to her husband and mother, she is survived by her brother, Kevin Andrews; her in-laws, Janet Gawthrope and Raymond Houle; and several nieces and nephews.
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday August 10, 2019 at 11 AM at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. Visiting hours are omitted. Burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery will be private. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, 121 Mount Pleasant St., New Bedford, MA 02740. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.