- Date Of Birth: October 29, 1924
- Date Of Death: April 7, 2016
- State: Rhode Island
Dolores Elizabeth (Mabray) Varella, 91, of Providence, RI was called home by the Lord on Thursday, April 7, 2016. Dolores was born on October 29, 1924 in Providence, RI to the late James Mabray and Clara (Clinton-Garedo) Mabray. She was the widow of the late Thomas J. Varella.
She is survived by 5 children, Thomas C. Varella (of Bear, DE), Ronald (Willa) J. Varella (of Hampton, NJ), James G. Varella (of Providence, RI), Jamilah White (of Mullica Hill, NJ) and Marie C. Taylor (of Lynchburg, VA), 8 siblings, Claire Montrond (of Sunnyvale, CA), Anna Lowman (of North Providence, RI), Joyce Pona (of Providence, RI), Cleo Lopez (of Riverside, RI), Juan Garedo (of Providence, RI), George Garedo (of East Providence, RI), Robert (Cecelia) Garedo (of Palm Bay, FL) and Glen Mabray (of Attleboro, MA), as well as 20 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great-grandchildren.
Other than her husband and parents, Dolores was also preceded in death by 5 siblings, Pedro Garedo, Barbara Shaw, Lola Willis, Juanita Johnson and Lois Gomes.
Dolores graduated from the Rhode Island School for the Deaf, becoming one of the first Black-Native Americans to graduate from an educational institution aimed at assisting the hearing impaired. Through her tireless work to raise her children, she was able to witness all 5 graduate from high school, with 4 of them going on to complete their college educations and 2 completed their graduate studies in law and education.
In addition to raising her children, she often took in other family members and looked after many of her nephews and nieces as if they were her own. Her cheerful disposition belied her strict adherence to raising respectful and considerate children. Although she had a hearing impairment, she always knew what time it was. Her sense of judging someone’s character was very keen and you could easily tell if she approved of your behavior. She will forever remain in our hearts.
