Nancy Carvalho Fraze

Nancy Carvalho Fraze died on Monday at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, two years after being diagnosed with a rare sarcoma. She was 67 years old. The daughter of Antonio and Lena Carvalho, she was raised on a dairy farm in East Fairhaven, Massachusetts. She graduated from Fairhaven High School with top honors, and with distinction from Bates College, where she won the language achievement awards in Spanish and French. She then earned a masters degree from the Madrid program of New York University.

During her 30-year career as a Professor at Bristol Community College, she transformed and occasionally startled her students with her expansive worldview and frankness. She was dedicated to our planet and all of its species, sending regular contributions to the most vulnerable. She lived and confronted her disease with elegance and unassuming duende.

Her family, friends and admirers know what they have lost, but they also know how her radiance will continue to illuminate their lives. Hers was a life well led.

Nancy is survived by her husband, Walter Fraze, Jr,; a daughter, Meghan Kelly Fraze of New York, NY; a son, Grant Anthony Fraze of Fall River; a brother, Thomas Carvalho of Fairhaven; several nieces, nephews and cousins; and many close friends and colleagues.

Calling hours will be Friday, May 31, 2013 from 4 to 7PM in the WARING-SULLIVAN HOME OF MEMORIAL TRIBUTE AT CHERRY PLACE 178 Winter St., Fall River, MA. A celebration of her life will be held at her farm at 143 Shaw Road in Fairhaven on Saturday, June 22nd at noon, with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Dana Farber Sarcoma Clinic 450 Brookline, Ave., Boston, MA 02215 or the Bristol Community College Foundation 777 Elsbree St., Fall River, MA 02720. For directions or to send a tribute visit: www.waring-sullivan.com