Richard T. Saunders

NEW BEDFORD — Richard T. Saunders, 75, of New Bedford died Sunday, November 30, 2008 at St. Luke's Hospital. He was the husband of Anne Downey Saunders, M.D.

Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Capt. Herman R. and Matilda M. (O'Reilly) Saunders, he lived in New Bedford for most of his life.

He was a communicant of Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish and St. Lawrence Parish.

Mr. Saunders was a well-known area funeral director who established the Richard T. Saunders Funeral Home Inc. in 1967. The firm later merged with the Dwyer Funeral Home in 1985 to create the Saunders-Dwyer Home For Funerals and in 1996 a new Mattapoisett facility was added. Prior to entering funeral service, he was an English teacher at Roosevelt Junior High School for several years.

He was a graduate of Monsignor Coyle High School, Boston College, and the Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago.

He was a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, the New Bedford Port Society, the N.A.A.C.P., the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, the Friends of Poland, the Wamsutta Club, the American Legion Post 1, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge 73, and the Portuguese-American Social Club. He had served as a Commissioner of the New Bedford Housing Authority since 1981.

From 1955 to 1957, he served in the U.S. Army as a Morse Code operator stationed at Brize Norton Royal Air Force Base in England.

Although of Irish heritage, Mr. Saunders had a special affection for Poland and the Polish people. Over the years, he made numerous humanitarian visits to his adopted country, delivering medical supplies, educational equipment, and computers. For two summers, he studied Polish language and culture at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow and the Catholic University of Lublin. He was an honorary member of the Armii Krajowej, the Polish Home Army of freedom fighters that fought against the Nazis during World War II. He was decorated by the Polish government with one of the highest State honors, the Order Virtuti Militari. He was a major benefactor of the Cistercian Monastery in Wachoch, the Wielka Wies Primary School, and the Laski School for the Blind.

Among his many charitable endeavors, Mr. Saunders was instrumental in procuring and renovating the Missionaries of Charity Convent on County Street in 1994. In June 1995, he had the privilege of meeting Mother Teresa at a private reception at the convent when she visited New Bedford.

He is survived by his wife; eight children, Richard T. Saunders, Jr. and his wife Kathleen of Dartmouth, Marie A. Saunders of New Bedford, Atty. Andrew B. Saunders and his wife Atty. Sandra G. Saunders of Fairhaven, Maureen L. O'Toole and her husband Atty. Patrick J. O'Toole, Jr. of Foxboro, Ellen L. Poyant and her husband Jeffrey of New Bedford, Michael A. Saunders and his wife Kirsten of Walpole, William H. Saunders and his wife Myriol of Mattapoisett, and Atty. Christopher T. Saunders and his wife Kimberly of New Bedford; seventeen grandchildren; Patrick, Christopher, Mary, Nora, Caroline, Allison, Matthew, William, Timothy, Jack, Benjamin and Ryan Saunders, Margaret and Elizabeth Poyant, Anne, Caitlin, and Patrick O'Toole; four brothers, Herman R. Saunders and Thomas F. Saunders, both of New Bedford, John W. "Jack" Saunders of Dartmouth, and Daniel J. Saunders of Fall River; two sisters, Mary M. Welch of Lakeville and Joan M. Liarikos of Rochester; and many nieces and nephews.

He was the brother of the late Katherine F. Sullivan, Albert E. Saunders, and Paul F. Saunders.

His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday at 10 AM at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Fairhaven. Visiting hours will be on Thursday from 2-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford.

Remembrances may be made to Market Ministries, 60 Eighth St., New Bedford, MA 02740. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.
This obituary was originally published in the Standard-Times (New Bedford, MA).