Theresa E. Lawless

Theresa E. (Hart) Lawless, 75, of New Bedford passed away at home on Wednesday June 10, 2026 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was the wife of Stephen T. Lawless.

Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Paul T. and Bernice M. (Fagan) Hart, she lived in New Bedford all of her life. She was a graduate of Holy Family High School and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

Theresa enjoyed a rewarding career as a first-grade teacher at the Mount Pleasant School and Carlos Pacheco Elementary School in New Bedford for 20 years until her retirement. She was also well-known as a server at several area restaurants, including Chippy’s, Me and Ed’s, and the Pancake House. She established many lifelong friendships with her customers throughout the years.

As a proud Irish woman, Theresa had the gift of gab which gave her the ability to converse with anyone that she met. She also made everyone she met feel welcomed and at ease. She liked to keep close tabs on everyone in her circle. She was very family oriented and was happiest when everyone was together. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren whom she adored the most. She was also an avid bowler, traveler, and reader.

She is survived by her husband, Stephen; her children, Mary Ellen Olson and her husband Jim, Bryan Lawless and his wife Melissa, Kevin Lawless and his wife Kara, and Patrick Lawless and his wife Alyssa; her siblings, Elizabeth “Betty” Warn and her husband Steven, and Timothy Hart and his wife Ann; six grandchildren, Genevieve, John, Noah, Luke, Morgan, and Bowen; and several nieces and nephews.

Her funeral will be held on Wednesday June 17th at 9 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, followed by her Funeral Mass at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Rd., Dartmouth at 10 AM. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Tuesday June 16th from 4-7 PM. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.