Irene N. (Centeio) Reis, 83, of New Bedford passed away peacefully on Thursday May 26 2022 after a brief illness with her family by her side. She was the loving wife of David D. Reis.
Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Paul F. and Dorothy M. (Monteiro) Centeio, she lived in New Bedford all of her life.
Affectionately known to most as "Grandma Reis,” she and her loving husband of 64 years, "Grandpa Reis,” together supported not only their granddaughters, but their granddaughter's friends and cousins too. Incredibly they never missed an event in the children's lives. As much as she was present at every event she was also known to bring a laugh to all seated around her. In addition to being a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother and friend to many, she was a happy person, not afraid to be "silly" to brighten someone's day. She loved to cook and both her "jag" and squash cake recipes will be carried on by family who were lucky enough to enjoy them.
Irene worked in various positions in the New Bedford Public School System including the MA Migrant Education Summer Program where she touched even more lives. Towards the end of her career she was honored in the Standard-Times by her supervisor, Charles Robinson, whose following words truly emulate the person she was: "She will be sorely missed by (NBHS teachers) ... and especially by this department chair," Mr. Robinson said. "In the classroom, we have observed her compassion for young people with backgrounds and handicaps of all descriptions. We have witnessed her perseverance and great patience in helping to teach the apparently unteachable. We have seen her coming over and over again to the defense of those whose differences make them the victims of the prejudice and scorn of their peers."
Grandma Reis has always been and will always be the sunshine of our family, friends and all who had the pleasure of knowing her.
She is survived by her husband David; her children, Doreen Reis of Portugal and David Aaron Reis and his wife Dr. Renee (Berthiaume) Reis of New Bedford; her granddaughters, Skylah, Raquel, Tatum, and Piper Reis; her siblings, Pauline Ramos, Diana Duarte, and Gregory Centeio and his wife Joyce, all of New Bedford, Jacqueline Centeio of Maryland, and John Centeio and his wife Marlene of Texas; and many nieces and nephews.
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday June 10th at 9 AM at Our Lady of the Assumption Church. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Thursday June 9th from 4-7 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the New Bedford High School Scholarship Fund, Attn: Principal's Office, 230 Hathaway Blvd., New Bedford, MA 02740. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.