Mary P. (Perry) Nelson, 89, of South Dartmouth died April 14, 2006 at the New Bedford Jewish Convalescent Home.
She was the wife of Kenneth W. Nelson, Sr. with whom she shared 68 years of marriage.
Born in Fairhaven, daughter of the late Frank and Mary (Francis) Perry. She resided in New Bedford for many years before moving to South Dartmouth in 1986. She was a graduate of St. Joseph's School, Fairhaven and Sacred Hearts Academy.
She was a communicant of St. Mary's Church in South Dartmouth and former communicant at St. Boniface Church where she assisted her husband who was the sexton of St. Boniface Church in New Bedford. She was a recipient of the Marian Medal from the Diocese of Fall River and was a member of the Sacred Hearts Association.
Survivors in addition to her husband; 3 sons, Kenneth W. Nelson, Jr. of Fairhaven, former Bristol County Sheriff David R. Nelson of New Bedford, and Michael Nelson of Hanover; 6 daughters, Patricia Jardin of Fort Smith, Ark., Marcia Texeira of Lakeland, Fla., Nancy Espinola of Sarasota, Fla., Maryann Nelson of South Dartmouth, Christine Medeiros of South Dennis, and Teresa Nelson of Mattapoisett; a brother, Joseph Perry of California; 2 sisters, Lucy Rapoza of Fairhaven and Lillian LaBrode of New Bedford; 21 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by 3 grandchildren and was the sister of the late Albert Perry and Daniel Sarmento.
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 18th at 10 AM in St. Mary's Church, South Dartmouth. Burial will be private. Visiting hours are omitted. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Kathleen J. Nelson Scholarship Fund, 227 Union St., New Bedford, MA 02740 or to the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, PO Box 111, Fairhaven, MA 02719.