Celeste “Sally” (Vaz) Mendes 89 of New Bedford passed away Sunday August 26, 2012 at the Oak’s. She was the widow of Cesar Mendes and daughter of the late Eugenio and Anna (Ferreira) Vaz. She was born in New Bedford and was a lifelong resident. She was a communicant of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception church. Sally was formerly employed as a stitcher at Justin Clothing until her retirement. She was the shop steward and chairperson for the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union; she was also a member of the Panthers Golden Agers and the Teamsters and Friends Retirement Club. Survivors include her son David Mendes and his wife Susan of New Bedford; her daughter-in-law Beverly Mendes of FL.; 2 granddaughters Christine Mendes of Fairhaven and Kelly Barboza of New Bedford; 4 great-grandsons, 2 great-granddaughters, many nieces and nephews. She was the mother of the late Richard “Rick” Mendes and sister of the late Adrian Vaz, Clotilde Nobrega and Domingos Botelho. Her funeral mass will be said 8:45am Thursday at Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception church. Burial will be in St. John’s cemetery
