Dennis P. "Babe" Bruce, 83, of Dartmouth died after a brief illness on Tuesday March 8, 2022 at St. Luke's Hospital. He was the loving husband and best friend to Rosemarie (Motta) Bruce, his wife of 61 years.
Born in New Bedford, he was the son of the late Edward F. and Mary A. (Griffiths) Bruce.
Babe attended Catholic schools in New Bedford and graduated from Monsignor Coyle High School in Taunton in 1956. After graduation, he proudly served his country by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. Honorably discharged in 1958, Babe returned to New Bedford to begin a career as commercial fisherman, where he worked until 1999. He then continued his career in the industry, working on the docks until his eventual retirement from Eastern Fisheries in 2018. His life, friends and family revolved around the commercial fishing industry; an industry that was a big part of his life from a young age.
Survivors include his wife, Rosemarie; his children Dennis Bruce and his wife Elizabeth of Acton, Terrence Bruce and his wife Deborah of Fairhaven, and Karen Barlow and her husband James of New Bedford; his grandchildren, Maison Bruce, Samuel Barlow, Maxwell Barlow, Andrew Bruce, and Caroline Bruce; and his great grandson, Levi Barlow. All of them, he cherished and loved dearly.
He also leaves his brothers, Edward F. Bruce, and Herman R. Bruce and his wife, Elizabeth Ann Bruce, all of Dartmouth; his sister-in-law, Beverly Mills and her husband Edward of Fairhaven; and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his sisters, Marie Celeine Toye, Mary Catherine Saunders, Lila Hogan Trott, and Perpetua M. Murray.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, March 21st at 11 AM at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, 121 Mt. Pleasant Street, New Bedford. A private family burial will be held at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne at a later date. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.