Ronald Roy Allison of New Bedford, MA died on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 from COVID-19 in South Dartmouth, MA. He was 77 years old.
He was born on February 28, 1943 in New Bedford, MA the son of William and Irene (Carreiro) Allison.
Ronald attended New Bedford High School, St. Joseph’s Seminary in Callicoon, NY and St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, MA. He also studied at St. Francis College, Penn State University, and Bridgewater State College.
He met Mary Jane (Counsman) Sheterom while he was a teacher at St. Mary’s School in Hollidaysburg, PA. when he brought homework for her son Jeffrey while he was recovering from a broken arm sustained while playing in his Great Aunt’s yard. The couple was married on October 22, 1966 at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic and spent forty-nine years together until her passing in 2015.
Ronald was also a teacher at Bishop Guilfoyle High School in Altoona, PA where he taught German and Latin and was involved with the Forensic Club.
Upon returning to New Bedford, MA. Ronald worked for Service Systems as the manager of the cafeteria at the Polaroid Negative Manufacturing Plant in the New Bedford Industrial Park.
He was also the Organist and Choir Director at St. Lawrence Church, and for a time, served as Sexton. It was during this time that Ronald re-worked the cables and repaired the bells and the timer in the church’s steeple. The bells once-again rang to mark the hour and three other times during the day to mark the praying of the prayer known as the Angelus. Sadly, the bells were silenced shortly thereafter due to complaints from the neighbors. Ronald also ran the Bingo for Holy Family High School and was the clerk at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Ronald was deeply devoted to his family and especially enjoyed time with his grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, to whom he was known as Vovô or Foo Foo. He was a wonderful cook. He thoroughly enjoyed decorating for the holidays with his wife, making their home the center of all family gatherings. He loved rendezvous with Mary Jane, Snow White, Disney World, camping, taking drives, playing the organ and the piano, listening to music, watching movies, and weekly card night with his wife, son Daniel, and daughter Theresa. He was also a decent carpenter and could fix almost anything around the house.
He is survived by his son Jeffrey (Sheterom) Allison and his partner Eric Pedro, son Timothy (Sheterom) Allison and his wife Donna, daughters-in-law Wendy (Sisson) Allison and Noreen (Mehigan) Arsenault, son-in law Sal Fernandes, and son Daniel’s partner Earl Taylor.
Grandchildren Deborah R. Mehigan and her fiancé Scott Thivierge, Donna M. (Cooper) Clark and her husband Jonathan, Donald L. Cooper Jr. and his wife Emma, David J. Cooper and his wife Catherine, Doreen J. (Cooper) Medeiros and her fiancé David West , Heather A. (Allison) Fitzgerald and her husband Christopher, Holly A. Allison and her partner Andy Bailey , Steven R. Rizzi, Jr. and his wife Jalisa, Melissa J. (Allison) Paradise and her husband Brian, Christopher R. Allison and his wife Miranda, Brandon R. Allison and his wife Amanda, Jamie L. (Rizzi) Joseph and her husband Brad, Theresa (Fernandes) Fleurent, Gary E. Fleurent II, Rebecca Koch and her husband Christopher, Colleen (Fernandes) Rebello and her husband Armand, and Ayden R. Allison.
Great-grandchildren Bradley C. Clark, Christopher A. Medeiros and his wife Johanna, Thomas L. Edwards and his fiancé Jamie Diehl, Eric C. Clark and his wife Chelsea, Jessica A. Medeiros, Hayley A. Allison and her fiancé Samuel Vasconcelos, Kobi Medeiros, Naomi C. Cooper, Hannah R. Allison, Christopher M. Pisz, Zoe E. Fitzgerald, Eve Post-Maher, Zackary M. Fitzgerald, Nolan D. Cooper, Gary E. Fleurent III, Samuel T. Paradise, Gabriel J. Fleurent, Logan W. Allison, Ella G. Fleurent, Evelyn D. Fleurent, Rand W. Allison, Natalie B. Joseph, Lainey T. Rebello, Lincoln L. Allison, Henry P. Koch, Avery C. Joseph, Ozzy E. Allison, Nathan A. Rebello, Theo S. Koch, and Beowulf E. Allison.
Great-great-grandchildren Amelia L. Medeiros, Ethan C. Clark, Zachery P. Medeiros, and Layton T. Clark
Ronald is also survived by his sister, Patricia (Allison) Sylvia, niece Sherry Lund and her husband Charles and their son Chucky, nephew Craig Sylvia and his partner Mike, nephew Lance Sylvia and his wife Trisha, sister-in-law Joan (Counsman) DeStefano, brother-in-law Frederic M. Ruehr, niece Kathleen A. Ruehr, niece Jane A. Coltabaugh and her son Alex B. Coltabaugh and daughter Jessica L. Coltabaugh, nephew Stephen F. Ruehr, his wife Mandy, his sons David F. Ruehr and Aiden J. Ruehr and his step-son Caden J Douglass, niece Jennifer K. Ruehr and her sons Seth R. McConnell and Gabriel M. McConnell, and cousin John Cabral of Fairhaven, MA.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, son Daniel Stephen Sheterom, daughter Theresa Marie (Allison) Fernandes, great granddaughter Isobel Allison, brother-in law Robert Sylvia, brother-in-law Joe DeStefano, great-nephew Nicholas A. Coltabaugh, and close family friend Shirley Howard.
Please do not send flowers. Due to COVID-19 social restrictions, there will regrettably be no public viewing, funeral, or Mass. Burial arrangements are thru the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park Street, New Bedford, MA. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, New Bedford, MA.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice in Ronald’s memory.
Ronald and Mary Jane are together once again, dancing, and enjoying all that our Heavenly Father has to offer!