Mary Celeste Vieira

Mary Celeste (Rebello) Vieira passed peacefully at home in the presence of her loving family in the early hours of April 27, 2024. She was born in Saõ Jacinto, Portugal, the second child of Alfredo A. Rebelo and Nazaré (Carlos) Rebelo. She immigrated at age 3 with her mother to join her father in Stonington, Ct. in 1933. She was educated in Stonington schools and worked as an executive secretary and bookkeeper. After marriage, she served as secretary and bookkeeper for the family business, Boat New England, Inc. She married Francisco J. Vieira in 1953; together they brought up four children. The family attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in New Bedford, where Mary Celeste volunteered and served as teacher. She and her husband sponsored her sister and his siblings when they immigrated to the New Bedford area. She cared for her husband at home for 28 years following his disabling injury, until his death in 2003. She was considered as a mother to many and will be missed by all who knew her.  

Mary Celeste was pre-deceased by her parents, her sister Alcina (Rebello) Verissimo, and her brother Alfred A. Rebello Jr. She is survived by her children Frank J. Vieira, Jr. and his wife Fhelica Nafe of S. San Francisco, CA; Paul E. Vieira and partner Jan Badger of New Bedford; Regina C. Vieira-Whitman and her spouse Gregory Whitman of Granville, Ma; and Alfred A. Vieira and spouse Claudia (Long) Vieira of Oakland, CA. Grandchildren Kristen Vieira, Jonathan Vieira, Daniel Vieira (deceased), Benjamin Vieira, Christian Mingola, Isa Mingola, Chloe Vieira and Raphael Vieira, as well as two great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She wished to acknowledge her namesake nieces Celeste Aresta and Mary Celeste Boulay, and her nephew John and wife Conceicaõ (Connie) Costa.

Mary’s visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at Perry Funeral Home from 4:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. Her funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 beginning in the funeral home at 9:00 A.M. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church at 10:00 A.M. Cremation to follow.