Othelia "Terry" (Correia) Rapoza

Othelia “Terry” (Correia) Rapoza, age 101, of New Bedford, peacefully passed away on Monday, September 4, 2023 at the New Bedford Jewish Convalescent Home. She was the beloved wife of the late Armand Rapoza with whom she shared 48 years of marriage.

Born in New Bedford, she was the daughter of the late Simon and Margaret (Lima) Correia, owners of the Crystal Market in the city’s south end.

Othelia was a graduate of New Bedford High School, class of 1940, graduated from the Swain School of Design and was a Commercial Artist-Illustrator for the C.F. Wing Company. She lived in Dartmouth most of her life and was a devoted member of St. Mary’s Church in Padanaram.

For years she was an active member, officer and dedicated book sale volunteer on behalf of the Friends of the Dartmouth Libraries, was an active member of the St. Mary’s Woman’s Guild and designed the “country cow” logo for the annual St. Mary’s Country Fair, which was used for years. Though new to the instrument, Othelia was also a proud flutist with the Dartmouth Community Band and volunteered for years in the offices of the Inter-Church Council of Greater New Bedford. She was also known for her curiosity, love of history, compassion and boundless generosity. Hers was a life driven by her faith and marked by an endless compassion for others, an enormous depth of wisdom and a selflessness that fueled all that she did. Othelia truly made the world a better place.

More than anything, however, time spent with family and friends was the most important thing to her. She was cherished by all and will be deeply missed by many.

She is survived by three children, the Honorable Phillip Rapoza (Ret.) and his former wife Virginia Rivard, both of New Bedford, Andrew V. Rapoza and his wife Gail (Blomberg) of Conroe, Texas, and Jennifer (Rapoza) Clarke and her wife Angela (Eddings) of New Bedford; seven grandchildren: Benjamin Rapoza, Samuel Rapoza and his wife Kimberly (LaCouture) all of New Bedford, Samantha (Clarke) Vasques and her husband Kenneth of Marion, Nicholas Rapoza, Braden Rapoza and his wife Cammy, Shanda (Rapoza) Tillman and her husband Edward, and Gwendolyn Rapoza, all of Texas; 10 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

The family is particularly grateful for the compassionate and dignified care provided by the 2nd floor staff at the Jewish Convalescent Home.

In-lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to Friends of the Dartmouth Libraries, P.O. Box 87174, South Dartmouth, MA 02748 or to the Humane Society & Shelter SouthCoast (https://hsssc.org/).

Her Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at 10:00AM in St. Mary’s Church, 789 Dartmouth St., Dartmouth, MA 02748. The family requests that those wishing to attend proceed directly to the church. Burial immediately follows in the South Dartmouth Cemetery on Elm Street. For on-line tributes, please visit: www.waring-sullivan.com.