Cecelia (Wesoly) Ociesa, a lifelong resident of New Bedford and Dartmouth, passed away on January 12, 2020 at the age of 93. Cecelia was known as Sally to her friends, “Mom” to her three daughters, and as “Mama” to her grandchildren and most everyone else.

Sally was the daughter of Katarzyna and Jon Wesoly who immigrated to America from Poland early in the 20th century. She was one of six children living together in New Bedford through the Great Depression and World War II. It was during the war that she met Charles K. Ociesa, a US Navy sailor returning from the Pacific Theater.

After the war, Sally and Charlie were married, settled in New Bedford and later moved to Dartmouth. Sally and Charlie were blessed with three beautiful daughters; Charlene (Buzz) Hiller, Janis (Mike) St. Laurent, and Cathy (Mark) Zielinski, all of Dartmouth.

Perhaps due to Sally’s early days growing up in a large family of modest means, her life was full of sharing and love of family. As her own family grew and grandchildren eventually arrived, her focus was on her daughters and their families.

Sally’s grandchildren (Jay, Caitlyn, Matt, Megan, Chris, Kathryn, and Sarah) and great-grandchildren (Celia, Brayden, and MacKinnon) became her world. Sally loved helping with the grandchildren and would share whatever she could as they grew.

Beyond her three daughters and their families, Sally is survived by her sister, Lena Nebiolo of Middletown, RI. She was predeceased by her bothers Walter, Leonard and Stanley Wesoly, and sister Frances Peitavino. She had many nieces and nephews.

Sally’s family wants to send a special thanks to all the caregivers in the memory loss unit at Autumn Glen. The kindness and compassion extended to Sally and her family improved the quality of the last fifteen months of her life.

Her funeral was held on Thursday, January 16 from the Waring-Sullivan Home at Dartmouth followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Mary’s Church in Dartmouth. Burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery, New Bedford.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, PO Box 96011, Washington DC 20090 or alz.org. For online tributes, visit waring-sullivan.com.