Cora T. (carlone) Braga

Remembering Cora Braga

Cora (Carlone) Braga, was wise, witty, sharp, and loved learning, family, food, democracy, and faith. 

A graduate of Classical High School, Bryant College and Providence College, she was the beloved matriarch of our family. The daughter of an immigrant, she deeply valued education, faith, community and our democracy. Cora lived with her daughter, Cynthia, in North Providence, RI. 

Cora was the daughter of the late Michelangelo Carlone of Providence, RI and Mary (Minera) Carlone of Erculano, Italy. Cora was sister to the late Joseph A. Carlone and sister in law to the late Irene (Sacco) Carlone.  She grew up in the Mt Pleasant neighborhood, part of Holy Ghost Church. She was a proud graduate of Classical High School. She wed the late Deacon Joseph Braga of Fox Point in Providence on November 16, 1957, and the two were married for 65 years. Cora was a teacher’s aide at St Patrick School in Providence, RI, Director of Religious Education at St Mary’s Broadway, St Matthew’s in Cranston, and St Joseph’s in Scituate, RI. She was an active leader in CYO, being recognized as CYO Woman of the Year. Cora and  Joe were beloved parents to their dear daughter Cynthia (Braga) Lawlor and their late son Joseph Braga, Jr. Deacon Joe and Cora were beloved uncle and auntie, great uncle and great auntie and loving friends and cousins, parents and grandparents. Cora is sister in law of Dorothy (Braga) Maciel. Cora was the beloved grandmother of David Lawlor, Neha Lawlor, and Daniel Lawlor (married to Yumi (Nam) Lawlor), and loving great grandmother to Jung Joseph “JJ” Lawlor. She had great love for many friends of the family, making them family, including Debbie, Diane and Donna Barbarita, Father Bobbie Webster, Ryan Lutrario, and all who knew and loved her.

Cora lived a rich, dynamic life, one that created community amidst hard times. She grew up in hard circumstances as the daughter of immigrants and never took education or our country’s democracy for granted. For decades, she would gather family and friends for large Christmas Eve feasts. She faithfully took care of her son Joseph when he contracted cancer in his adult years. She studied and earned a Master’s in Religious Education as an adult. She cared for her children, grandchildren, great-children, and their friends, and modeled hospitality, second chances and kindness. “We’re all vulnerable. Let’s enjoy the time we have,” she would say. 

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her VISITATION on Monday July 14th from 8:15-9:15 AM at “WOODLAWN” Funeral Home, 600 Pontiac Avenue, Cranston. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM in St. Robert Bellarmine Church, 1804 Atwood Ave, Johnston. Burial will follow in St. Ann Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to Dana Farber Cancer Institute P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168

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