Dorothy Gouveia

Dorothy Gouveia
“A true matriarch”

Naugatuck, CT Dorothy Gouveia, 93, died peacefully at her home on October 28, 2024 with loving family by her side.

Dorothy was born June 6, 1931 in Waterbury, CT a daughter of the late Trefley and Mamie Tardy. She graduated from Waterbury Catholic High and for many years was the co-owner on Gouveia’s Garage in Naugatuck. Dorothy also worked at Fassett’s Farm and was a bookkeeper at Whitehall Battery of Waterbury.

In grandma Dot’s retired years, she was fiercely independent. She spent her days making sure she helped others and always made time for her hobbies. From days at the Naugatuck Senior Center making crafts and flower arrangements, to paint classes at Brush Strokes, to teaching her great grandchildren how to make soups, Dot added tangible love to this life.

One thing that she often did that gave her great joy was crocheting blankets and hats for the new born babies at St. Mary’s and Waterbury Hospitals, and over the years, Dot made hundreds of these items. Whatever Dot did, she did with joy and passion, and she lived and loved so big.

Dot’s love was palpable and she was devoted to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Time away from home was time spent with her grandkids. She was a true matriarch, always teaching and leading her grandkids and she will be sorely missed.

Dorothy is survived by her daughter, Sharon Marques (Joao); her son, Lionel Gouveia; her granddaughter, Virginia Doxsey (Michael); her grandson, John Marques (Tammy); her great grandchildren, Mckayla Rodriguez (Ray), Jacob Marques (Jazzmin), Emma Marques, Matthew Doxsey, Sean Doxsey and Jack Doxsey; her great great grandson, Theo Rodriguez and her sister, Marie Tardy. In addition to her parents, Dorothy was predeceased by her brother, Herbert Tardy, her daughter in law, Aurea Gouveia and her ex-husband, Lee Gouveia.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, November 6, 2024 at 10:00am at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 318 Church Street, Naugatuck. Everyone attending Mass is kindly asked to please meet directly at church. Inurnment will follow in St. James Cemetery Columbarium, Cross Street, Naugatuck. There are no calling hours and arrangements have been entrusted to the Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Avenue, Naugatuck, CT. In lieu of flowers and to honor Dorothy’s memory, donations are requested to VITAS Hospice Care, 199 Park Road Ext., #102, Middlebury, CT 06762 or to the Naugatuck Senior Center, 300 Meadow Street, Naugatuck, CT 06770.