Dente, Barbara Ann (Turco) of Wellesley passed away peacefully on December 15, 2022, at the age of 90 surrounded by her loving family. Barbara was born in Boston, the daughter of Joseph and Adeline Turco. She graduated from Medford High School and attended Boston University until her marriage to Gerald Dente, her husband of almost 70 years.
Barbara selflessly devoted her life to caring for her first child, Denise, who has severe developmental disabilities. While being an unyielding fighter and fulltime caregiver to her daughter into her late 80’s, she found time to exercise her creative eye for interior design and home renovation for 30 years. Well into her 70’s, she became an early innovator as a decorator in the field of home staging, earning the admiration of real estate professionals and home buyers. In her later years, Barbara was active at the Wellesley Senior Center where she volunteered sewing teddy bears that are distributed to local hospitals for newborns.
Barbara is survived by her 3 children Denise Dente of Wellesley; Gerald Dente, Jr. of Framingham and his wife Joyce; and Mark Dente, MD of Wellesley and his wife Beth; her brother Joseph Turco of Tewksbury; and sisters Joan and Pauline Turco of Lakeway, TX. Barbara also leaves 4 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren: Gerald Dente III (JJ), his wife Becka, and their children Thomas and Oliva; Kristopher Dente, his wife Brittany, and their children Wyatt and Asher; Samantha Dente, Esq; and Dan Raia. Her husband, Gerald Dente, Sr., died in 2019.
Visitation will be held at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St. Wellesley on Wednesday, December 28, from 10:30am-12:15pm followed by a service starting at 12:15pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Charles River Center, 59E Militia Heights Drive, Needham, MA 02492. www.charlesrivercenter.org The Charles River Center is a Day and Residence Program for adults with Developmental Disabilities which supports Mrs. Dente's daughter, Denise.