08/21 Heraldnews

Theodore Oliveira
Brother Theodore Carrelas Oliveira, CSC, a member of the Brothers of Holy Cross, Eastern province for 58 years, died Saturday August 18, 2007 at Connecticut Hospice. Brother Theodore was born in Fall River, MA November 3, 1930 a son of the late Theodore and Mary Carrelas Oliveira. After graduating magna cum laude from Msgr. James Coyle High School in Taunton Ma in 1949 he entered St. Joseph of Holy Cross Juniorate in Valatie, NY. On August 15, 1949, he was received into the Congregation at St. Joseph Novitiate in Rolling Prairie, IN for a year of intense preparation for his life as a brother, made his initial profession in Holy Cross on August 16, 1950 and professed his perpetual vows at Sacred Heart Church on August 16, 1953. Five months later he was assigned to Notre Dame High School in West Haven where he would spend the next fifty-four years. Brother Theodore’s tenure at Notre Dame spans almost the entire history of the school. He taught all levels of Religion and Latin from 1953 until his retirement from the classroom in 2005. He was respected and admired as a teacher. He once said, “I have always asked my students to do their very best, to just be themselves and to make learning something they want to do and not something they have to do.” In addition to teaching, he was assigned to maintenance duties at the school. Brother Theodore was the “wizard of Notre Dame” from a maintenance and electrical standpoint. No one knew the lay of the land inside Notre Dame better than Brother Theodore. He was helping the maintenance staff as recently as a few weeks ago preparing for the 2007-08 school year. He was also the “man behind the scenes” for many concerts, musical productions and proms. The Notre Dame Alumni Association honored Brother Theodore with induction as a Knight of Honor, the highest award given, at its inaugural Dinner on October 11, 1986. Furthermore, Notre Dame celebrated his 50th Anniversary as a Holy Cross Brother on May 14, 2000 at a community-wide Mass. Brother Theodore is survived by his sister and brother-in-law Margaret and Noel Madeiros of Fall River, MA and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother Joseph Oliveira and his sister Hilda Hamel.
Visiting hours will be Wednesday from 3:00 - 6:30pm at Notre Dame High School, 24 Ricardo Street West Haven. A Mass of the Resurecction will be celebrated at the school at 7:00pm. On Thursday, August 23, 2007 there will be a visitation at St. John the Baptist Church in Valatie, NY from 10:00am - 11:00am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial. Burial will be in the Community Cemetery at St. Joseph Center in Vallatie, NY. following the liturgy. Memorial contributions may be made to Notre Dame High School 24 Ricardo St. West Haven, CT 06516 or the Brothers of Holy Cross Eastern Province 85 Overlook Circle, New Rochelle, NY 10804. The IOVANNE FUNERAL HOME, INC 11Wooster Place is in care of arrangements.