Donna Louise (Carvalho) Moody passed on 04/26 after a very full life.  Donna was born to John J. and Lillian D. (Roberts) Carvalho in Attleboro MA on January 23, 1946. She grew up in Norton MA, graduating High School in 1964.

On June 4, 1966 Donna was married to Robert E. Charlebois. They had three children together; Robert Jr., Nicole (Charlebois) Wakeman, and Chrestien Charlebois. The three children grew up in North Newport NH.  This marriage  ended in divorce in 1994.  On September 30, 2000 Donna married John S. Moody, the love of her life…sometimes it takes more than one try to get it right. The grandchildren are many as are the great grandchildren. Besides her spouse, Donna is survived by one sibling, John J. Carvalho Jr., (and his three sons) of Las Vegas, NV, 17 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, and many cousins. Donna considered the children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren the most important legacy of her life. Family was always central to her every thought and her being. Her three children, 17 grandchildren. and 19 great grandchildren are the gems that adorn her tiara as the matriarch of this large family. That tiara and title now pass on to Nicole, wear it well daughter.

In 1966 Donna graduated from Pondville Hospital School of Practical Nursing in Wrentham, MA.  She worked in various settings as an LPN for 15 yrs. In 1982, she graduated from NHTI in Concord NH having earned an Associate's Degree and her RN and from that point went on to complete 42 years of active nursing working in Med/Surg, ICU, Home Health Care, and Hospice.

Donna felt privileged to have come of age in the turbulent 1960s. The Times Were A'Changing for sure. Her social activism  comprised being a part of the struggles for Civil Rights and advocating for the end of the Vietnam War. This struggle for equality and the end of socio-racial oppression was lifelong beginning when she was in 2 ^nd grade when she clocked a classmate who was taunting a child of color…she never struck out in anger again, learning that she could use her words to get her point across.

After leaving the Wonderful World of Nursing, Donna enrolled in the University Without Walls at UMass Amherst, earning her BA in 2011.  She then received her MA in 2013 and her PhD in 2016 in Anthropology from UMass Amherst. Donna taught at UMass Amherst as a Graduate Student and most recently at Franklin Pierce University.  She found a new love in teaching college age students (they laughed at my jokes!).  Along with John, Donna also presented public programming (hundreds) on various topics throughout NH and VT.  She co-authored chapters in several books and contributed to articles pertaining to Native peoples of the northeast.

In 2015 Donna was awarded the Nathalie F. S. Woodbury Distinguished Service Award.

She was a member of: Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society, Golden Key International Honor Society, and The National Society of Leadership and Success (nomination declined).

Donna worked tirelessly for 20 years with local, State, and Federal entities as the Repatriation Coordinator for the Abenaki Nation.  Those efforts culminated in the return and reburial of over 200 Abenaki Ancestors along with facilitating the return of Ancestral remains to the Chickasaw Nation, Seneca Nation, Penobscot Nation, and Dakota Nation.

Always keeping an eye to serving the less privileged of society, along with her husband John, Donna created the non-profit organization Winter Center for Indigenous Traditions. Winter Center works to connect youth and elders, ensuring traditional ways continue, language revitalization, medical counseling, and providing for ways in which elders and young families can be assured of food security and basic human needs.

Donna was an avid reader, quilter, knitter, and lover of all things fiber. So much fiber that won't be spun by her hands. But we all seem to leave a mess of 'stuff' behind.

And yes, Donna wrote this obit herself with a little help from John! It's been a bit of a long life; many ups and downs because for most of us, life isn't easy. I've been blessed with good people in my life and I've been plagued with a good number of fools.  I would make some changes (who wouldn't?) if I could but that train has left the station.

Through all of this life, my inherent knowledge that the most important members of society are the elders for their knowledge and the children for the joy of living. I've accomplished much but my greatest love and pride rests with all those children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  The torch is now passed to the next generation and I am so very, very proud of each of you.  Never doubt for a moment that I will leave you…listen to that nagging voice outside of your ear or the voice so filled with love and expectation.

Stringer Funeral Home in Claremont NH is in charge of final arrangements. There will be no calling hours and internment will be private. If you've been good, the kids will likely invite you to a Remembrance Gathering…and watch out what you're remembering because I'll be listening.

How would I like to be remembered?  As an advocate, activist, feisty (sometimes salty) strong woman. But most of all, remember me as a Mom, Grammy, and Great Grammy who loved her family more than life itself.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift of remembrance to Winter Center for Indigenous Traditions, P.O. Box 328, Hanover, NH 03755