Jeanne DuPont Dutra, 80

Apr 5, 2025

Jeanne DuPont Dutra, 80, of Dartmouth died Saturday March 29, 2025, surrounded by her loving daughter and son-in-law. She was the wife of the late Arthur A. Dutra.

Born in Watertown, Massachusetts and raised in Belmont, she was the daughter of the late Arthur DuPont and Mabelle Coyne DuPont. Jeanne spent all of her summers at Lake Sunapee in their house at Blodgett Landing named Fairview.

Jeanne attended the St. Luke's School in Belmont, graduated from Mt. Trinity Academy, and went on to graduate from Trinity Washington University in 1966. After college, Jeanne joined the Peace Corps, where she taught English to children in Sao Paulo, Brazil from 1966-1968. This was an extremely rewarding experience for her and paved the way for her career in Education.

Upon returning from Brazil, she accepted a job in the New Bedford School Department, where she worked as an Administrator, and a 3rd grade teacher at the Winslow Elementary School. During this time she completed her Master of Education from Bridgewater State University. After spending time at home to raise their daughter, Jeanne enjoyed working at the New Bedford Institution for Savings (NBIS) which later became Fleet Bank and Bank of America.

Mrs. Dutra was a member of the College Club of New Bedford for many years, and supported local organizations, including YMCA Southcoast, where she loved to swim. Jeanne was the kindest, loving and most generous person and positively affected the lives of those around her in ways she will never know. So many people have said that they feel so lucky to have known her!

She is survived by a daughter, Ann Marie Mullane and her husband Shawn, and their children, Ruby, Conor and Bridget. She was a significant part of their lives, sharing many happy memories that will comfort the sorrow they have in their hearts. Everything good in her can be found in them, and in that way, she lives on and always will.

Jeanne was a communicant of St. Mary's Church in South Dartmouth and passionately organized a Diaper Drive each year through the Social Concerns Ministry, to benefit the Diapers N Things program of PACE. She organized the donation of thousands of diapers over the years. Remembrances may be made to Social Concerns Ministry (for Diaper Drive), St. Mary's Catholic Church, 789 Dartmouth Street, South Dartmouth, MA 02748.

Jeanne's family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of the Faulkner Hospital and the Brigham and Women's Hospital, in Boston, for all of their attention to her during her brief illness. The compassion they showed to both Jeanne and her family was second to none.

Her Funeral Mass was held at St. Mary's Church, South Dartmouth on Friday April 4th. Arrangements were by the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.