Bella I Carpenter

Bella I. (LeMay) Carpenter, 95, passed away on Saturday, October 11, 2014 at the Knollwood Nursing Center. She was born in Worcester on July 23, 1919, the daughter of the late William and Donalda (Berthiaume) LeMay. Joseph Carpenter, her devoted husband of 67 years, passed away in January, 2006. The proud mother of five children, Bella leaves two sons, Edward Carpenter of Worcester and South Carolina, and Richard Carpenter and his wife Karen of Charlton City, two daughters, Judith Roy and her husband Philip of Leicester, and Joan Carpenter of East Falmouth.. A daughter, Carol Thomson of Harwich passed away in 2003. She also leaves her cherished grandchildren, Kenneth Roy, Lori Puzo, and Dylan Thomson, all of Worcester, Joseph Carpenter of Shrewsbury, Edward Carpenter of Auburn, Erika Gervais of Westboro, Ashley Carpenter of Shrewsbury, Jennifer Morse of Moreno Valley, California, and Kim Baker of Palm Bay, Florida Her grandson, Michael Thomson, passed away in 2012. "Grandma Bella" also had a very special relationship with her cherished ten great-grandchildren. She also leaves two sisters, Beatrice Moore of Scottsdale, Arizona and Noella Bellenoit and her husband Richard of Worcester and Chelsea, and many nieces and nephews. Her brothers Arthur and Richard LeMay, and sisters Rita Riordan and Gertrude Dupont, pre-deceased her. Her brother, Leo LeMay was killed in action in WWII. Bella attended Commerce High School, where she was a straight A student in the Horace Mann Program of Studies for Academically Gifted Students. During the height of the Great Depression Bella had to leave school in her junior year to go to work full-time at Viko Shoe Co to help support the family. She continued at Viko Shoe until she married and gave birth to her first of five children. Bella was a devoted wife and mother who especially enjoyed family gatherings, be they at their summer home in Spencer, MA. or at home in Worcester. She was the family organizer and thought nothing of hosting family gatherings of fifty or more. She loved being surrounded by her children and husband and encouraging them as they went on to find their own successes in life. Bella's husband and children are all quick to credit Bella for much of their successes in life. After raising her children, Bella worked at the former Cornell Dubilier Co., and in the accounting department of Edward and Kelsey Surveying Co. She retired in 1956 from the accounting department of Premium Beverage Company. Following her retirement, Bella went on to earn her GED diploma from the Worcester, Public Schools. A creative and talented woman, she enjoyed gardening, her years of bowling in leagues in Shrewsbury and Auburn, and a myriad of craft activities. She was a long-time member of St. Stephen's Church. The family would especially like to thank the wonderful staffs at Summit Eldercare of Grafton Street and at the Knollwood Nursing Center for the outstanding care they gave our mother. Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate Bella's life by attending calling hours from 5-8p.m. on Monday, October 20, 2014 in the Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel, 370 Plantation St, Worcester. Funeral services for Bella will be held from the funeral home on Tuesday, October 21, with a 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Stephen's Church, 16 Hamilton St., Worcester. Flowers may be sent or memorial contributions made to Summit Eldercare, 1369 Grafto n St, Worcester (att: Pat LaZarik), or to Willow Lane at the Knollwood Nursing Center, 65 Briarwood Circle, Worcester