Peabody – Loretta M. (Conde) Bento 82, beloved wife of the late Fred L. Bento, died Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at home surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Salem, she was the daughter of the late Anthony J. and Mary Florence (Driscoll) Conde. She received her education at St. Joseph’s School in Peabody and graduated from St. Chretienne’s Academy in Salem, class of 1957. She continued her education, earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the Boston College School of Nursing, class of 1961. Loretta was a proud Golden Eagle and devoted fan of the BC Eagles football.

Loretta had been employed for fifteen years as a registered nurse in the IV department at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston until the time of her retirement in 2006. Prior to that she had worked as a registered nurse and nursing instructor at Salem Hospital for many years.

A lifelong resident of Peabody, Loretta was a volunteer at St. John’s School where her children attended grade school. Later, during her retirement, she continued her volunteer work by supporting the parish’s Outreach Program. Always a good cook, her specialty was baking and preparing various desserts to complete the program’s Friday lunches. Her work and presence will be missed by many.

Loretta was the magnet in the family that drew us together. She loved to host Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations. She was a doting mother and grandmother, always supportive and cheering for her children and grandchildren at sporting events and activities they participated in. A talented knitter, she would always have a work in progress at her side, no matter the season. A lifelong dedicated Boston Red Sox fan, she was always watching games and knew the best players for the year. She liked to reminisce about attending games as a child and cheering for Ted Williams. Loretta was also a savvy shopper and was known for always giving perfectly suited gifts to everyone, no matter the celebration. In the past, Loretta enjoyed spending time with her family and friends at her Ossipee Lake home. She loved animals, especially her constant companion, a British shorthaired cat, “Angus”.

Surviving her are two daughters, Cynthia Bento of Peabody and Julie Ordway and her husband, Robert of Peabody, two sons, Stephen Bento and his wife, Elizabeth of Peabody and James Bento and his fiancé, Karen Fitzgerald of Eugene, OR, six grandchildren, Anthony Silveira, Brian Silveira, Thomas Ordway, Sean Ordway, Kathryn Ordway and Emma Bento and a sister, Marilyn Conde of Peabody.

ARRANGEMENTS: Her funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. John the Baptist Church, 17 Chestnut St., Peabody, Thursday, August 17, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting hours at the Conway Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody, Wednesday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. For directions and online guestbook, please visit www.ccbfuneral.com.