Theresa Rose Baptiste

Theresa Rose Baptiste passed away peacefully on October 8, 2023 at Havenwood Heritage Heights after spending the day with her daughters and close friends by her side.

She was born on July 21, 1932, in New Bedford, Massachusetts to Mary and Manuel V. Medeiros and married the love of her life Joseph Baptiste. She graduated from Dartmouth High School, Dartmouth, MA, and St Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing in New Bedford, MA, earning high marks in her studies. She loved being a nurse, first working on the maternity ward of St Luke’s, and later as a school nurse in the public school system of Dartmouth, MA.

Theresa grew up on a dairy farm and loved being outside with her father. She told wonderful stories about driving tractors with him and life on the farm. She and Joe loved sailing on their boat in Padanaram, MA and Rockport, ME. She also enjoyed horseback riding, listening to bossa nova music, and going to the ocean. She loved family gatherings at the cottage on Lake Noquochoke in Dartmouth. She was lovingly called "Zippy," by all who knew her.

She spoke fluent Portuguese and was proud of her Portuguese heritage. She cherished her two trips to Portugal and the Azores with her daughters and her son-in law.

Theresa and Joe retired young, building their own home in Wesley, Maine. She loved gardening and grew most of their vegetables. They commercially raised blueberries and enjoyed snowmobiling and walking in the woods with their golden retriever.

Theresa enjoyed craft work, especially knitting beautifully intricate sweaters and braiding rugs. She liked to read, but most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her daughters.

She will be remembered for her quick wit, her ever-present sense of humor, and her hearty laugh.

Theresa is survived by her daughters – Mary Beth Baptiste and her husband Richard Allen of Wyoming and Nancy C Kyle and her husband Frank Pace of New Hampshire.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust (DNRT.org) or Becky’s Gift (Beckysgift.org).

A funeral mass will be held on Monday, October 16^th at 2:00pm at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 180 Loudon Rd, Concord, NH. There will be an ice cream social immediately following.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, October 20^th, 2023, at 1:00pm at the Padanaram Cemetery, 507 Elm Street, South Dartmouth, MA, with a luncheon immediately following.