Mary (Pereira) Dugas

Mary Dugas, aged 100, a longtime resident of the Christian Hill section of Centralville and St. Michael parish in Lowell, died Tuesday, June 9, 2026, peacefully at home surrounded by her family. She was the beloved wife of the late Roger Dugas, to whom she was happily married for 73 years.

Mary was born in Lowell on October 2,1925, the oldest daughter of Antonio and Maria (Sousa) Pereira. She received her education in Lowell schools and began work at Suffolk Knitting Company following graduation until the birth of her children. She later returned to work a short time at Wang Laboratories, but her full-time vocation was welcoming, feeding, and spoiling her family, their children, and their friends. You could also find her tending her garden which she enjoyed and took pride in. After years of marriage to a Red Sox fanatic, she surrendered and never missed a game. She will be remembered as a sweet-tempered, modest, and generous lady who was always ready to be of service to others.

Mary was to survive all of her siblings: Johnie Pereira, Gussie Trembly, Joseph Pereira, Alda Betley, and Anthony “Chico” Pereira, and those of her husband: Theresa Whalen, George Dugas, Yvette Ouellette, Rita Dougherty, and Armand “Pete” Dugas.

She is survived by one daughter, Joanne Dugas of Lowell, and three sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Sherry Dugas of Atkinson, NH; David and Kathleen Dugas of Lowell; and Steven and Christina Dugas of Tyngsboro.

She was adored by eleven grandchildren: Chandra Cantor (h. Michael), Shala Rousseau (h. Al), Aria Newton (h.Grant ), Peter Dugas, Cara Colon (h. Jose), Jessica Dugas, Hanna Lutz (h. Jason), Nicholas Lutz (w. Julie), Alex Dugas (w. Andrea), Miranda Lutz and the late Anthony Dugas.

Mary and Roger were delighted to have fourteen great grandchildren: Alyssa, Bodhi, Noah, Baylee, Amelia, Jude, Jasper, Nico, Finn, Camila, Elias, Cosmo, Ezra, and Nelle, and she lived to celebrate her place as the head of a fifth generation last year with the arrival of her great-great grandson, Hudson.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Mary’s Life Celebration at the MCKENNA-OUELLETTE FUNERAL HOME, 327 Hildreth Street, Lowell on Monday, June 22nd from 9:00 until 11:00am followed by her Funeral Service at 11:00am at the funeral home. Burial in St. Joseph Cemetery in Chelmsford. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary’s memory to American Breast Cancer Society, American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741.