Wilmington Woman, 89, Recalled as Generous Volunteer and Active Church Member

Dot was born on July 9, 1924, at 100 West Street in Wilmington, MA. in the family’s farmhouse. She was the daughter of the late Theodore Eugene and Elizabeth Ann (Lang) Thomas, she was one of five siblings. Raised and educated in the Wilmington school system and she also continued her education after graduation attending Drafting school.

Dorothea married the late Salvatore (Sal) Provenzano and together they raised 3 wonderful children. Her family was always first and foremost in her life, but she always had time for friends and even to help total strangers in need.  Nobody could ever love Easter and Christmas holidays like Dorothea, they were her favorite time of the year.

She was a generous lady, giving of herself and her time hosting many charitable events and always volunteering for countless fundraisers, her enjoyment always was helping others unselfishly in the community. She spent lot of hours being a leader for the Cub Scouts and the Campfire Girls for she loved and would do anything for children.

Dorothea was a woman of remarkable faith.  She was a very active communicant of St. Thomas Church (Wilmington, MA) and later at St. Joseph’s Parish (Ossipee, NH) for many years and the head of the Catholic daughters and Lioness Club involving herself in countless Church bazaars, cookouts, and Minstrel shows, whenever she was called upon.

In the early 1980’s after her career with Sweetheart Plastics and being head cook in one of the Wilmington schools, she retired and moved to Tamworth, NH where her family spent many years camping and making many countless happy memories.  She also took a part time job at Subway. Dot was always on the go. She would cook, bake, go for walks, rake the yard, feed the birds and just love nature. The only time you could get her to sit down and relax was to do her knitting and quilting. She knitted baby sweater sets, blankets, hats for newborns at hospitals, and handmade quilts.

Dorothea will be fondly remembered for her sense of humor, her total devotion to family and friends, and her great love for God.  She was quite a lady in every sense of the word, and will be missed dearly by all.

She was the beloved wife of the late Salvatore Provenzano, devoted mother of Richard Provenzano and his wife Maureen of Billerica, Gary Provenzano of Tamworth, NH., and Gail (Provenzano) Ciardi of Wilmington, loving “Grammy” of Meghan and her husband Jimmy Higson, Tanya Ciardi and Tasha Ciardi, “GG” of great grandchildren Aidan and Dylan Higson, cherished daughter of the late Theodore E. and Elizabeth A. (Lang) Thomas.

Family and friends are all invited for visiting hours at the Nichols Funeral Home, 187 Middlesex Avenue, Wilmington, MA., 4-8pm on Monday, May 19th. Funeral Mass and Church services will be held on Tuesday, May 20that 10am at St. Thomas of Villanova Church, 126 Middlesex Avenue, Wilmington, MA., followed by the Interment in Wildwood Cemetery, Wilmington.  

Memorial donations in Dorothea’s name may be made to St. Joseph’s Parish, P. O. Box 248, Center Ossipee, NH  03814-0248.