Deirdre (Gavigan) Furtado

Deirdre (Gavigan) Furtado passed peacefully on 8/1/18. She was born in Derry, Ireland in 1940 and relocated to NYC in the early 60's. She married Frank Furtado in 1979. They lived in Bermuda for thirty years. Deirdre helped revive a fading Bermuda craft, the traditional Banana Leaf Doll made from indigenous plant material. She also volunteered for the Bermuda Masterworks Gallery. In 2009 she and Frank re-located to Vermont which they grew to love even more than Bermuda. Deirdre is survived by, siblings Geraldine Murphy, John Gavigan, Keiran Gavigan. Along with her step-daughter Carmel Furtado and numerous nieces and nephews. By blood and by marriage, she took them all in to her heart. In writing this obituary we were hard pressed to list her career as artist or "social butterfly". Deirdre made friends everywhere she went. She had a fantastically positive attitude and even during her illness, she told her sister that she was "determined to live the best life she possibly could". She volunteered at the Manchester Community Library, Neighbor to Neighbor and several other groups. She loved attending the student musicals at BBA and participating in the Komen Race for the Cure. Last year she began a creative writing class at Northshire Bookstore that she was enjoying she felt opened new vistas to her. Deirdre lived - and I mean really lived, with cancer for twenty-seven years until it took her body. But it can't take her spirit from us. She will be missed by many. Donations in her honor may be made to the Manchester Community Library or SWVTMed.Ctr/Ctr.for Living and Rehab c/o Brewster-Shea Funeral Services P.O. Box 885, Manchester Center, VT 05255